Reading rose in popularity last year

People on average read more in 2022 compared with the previous year, according to a national reading report released at the Second National Conference on Reading in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Sunday, which marked the 28th World Book and Copyright Day.

The survey, conducted by the Chinese Academy of Press and Publication in Beijing for the 20th consecutive year, polled 1.48 million respondents in 165 cities in 30 provincial regions. Grownups accounted for 74.6 percent of all respondents. One in four were from rural areas.

In general, Chinese grown-ups read more in 2022 compared to 2021. About 81.8 percent of those surveyed read via a variety of media, 0.2 percentage points higher than in 2021. The growth in reading digital books was slightly higher than for paper books.

In 2022, Chinese adults read an average of 4.78 paper books and 3.33 electronic books. In comparison, the figures in 2021 were 4.76 and 3.30 respectively.

On average, underage people read 11.14 books, up from 10.93 in 2021. Urban residents read 5.61 paper books on average, up from 5.58 in 2021, and those in the rural areas 3.77, up from 3.76 the previous year.

Audiobooks and book analysis videos became new choices.

The survey showed that 45.5 percent of adults prefer to read paper books, more than 32 percent prefer to read on mobile phones, about 8 percent prefer digital devices, 6.8 percent tend to read on the computer, 8.2 percent listen to audiobooks and 2.8 percent watch videos about books.

In addition to the national conference on reading, China held numerous other events and activities related to reading and books on Sunday.

At the National Library of China, 19 books won Wenjin Book Awards, China's top book award, including Zhongguoren De Yinyue (Chinese People's Music) by Tian Qing, Zhonghua Wenming Wuqiannian (Chinese Civilization in Five Thousand Years) by Feng Tianyu, Shuyu Zhubo (On Bamboo and Silk: Written Records in Ancient China) by Qian Cunxun, Huashi Miyu (Decoding Fossils) by Rong Jiayu, and the Chinese translation of The Idea of the Brain: A History by Matthew Cobb. A further 38 books won the honor of being recommended to readers.

Nearly 2,000 books competed for this year's awards, which are divided into three categories: social sciences, science popularization and children's books.

Covering topics including history, music, architecture, art, poverty alleviation, the conditions of migrant workers, as well as women's social concerns, the candidates and winners of the social sciences category not only represented Chinese civilization and knowledge, but also showed social and economic advancement since 2012.

In the science popularization category, candidates and winning titles covered quantum mechanics, chemistry, astronomy, medicine and biology among other topics.

Children's book competitors included not only picture books and fairy tales, but also poetry and nature observation.

The winning science popularization titles permit readers to clearly and deeply enjoy the beauty of science and reasoning, and also to employ what they learn from the books in their daily lives, according to Yin Chuanhong, juror of the category.

"I hope readers will get to know ancient Chinese music so that they can better understand Chinese achievements, and feel really proud of our civilization," said author Tian Qing about his book Chinese People's Music.