Shanghai unveiled the results of its 13th annual reading habits survey on Monday, revealing a city deeply engaged with literature across generations.

According to the survey, the city had a 97 percent comprehensive reading rate (encompassing print books, e-books, audiobooks, and video-based reading), and respondents read an average of 10.03 books in 2024, a slight drop from 12.37 books in 2023.

The survey was conducted by the School of Media and Communications of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and published by the Shanghai Press and Publication Administration.

For the third consecutive year, e-books topped preferred reading formats (81.61 percent), with the reading rates of print books and video-based reading also climbing. Residents spend 58.77 minutes daily on screens, while the time spent on print reading has dropped from 44.18 minutes to 38.89 minutes.

Young adults (20-40) read 9.47 books on average, the lowest among all age groups, with 82.66 percent of youth rating their reading consumption as inadequate. Minors favor print reading (28 mins/day) over digital, reading 13 books yearly. As for seniors (those older than 65), 65.32 percent read over six books last year.

The survey shows the prime reading time for Shanghai residents is between 8 pm and 10 pm, with about half of respondents reading in that time slot, and a quarter reading after 10 pm.

Family reading remains strong, with parents and their children spending an average of 110 minutes reading together per week. Meanwhile, 87.6 percent of families with children under 8 frequent kid-friendly reading spaces.

Shanghai's hybrid reading spaces are gaining traction. About 78 percent of respondents have used public libraries, bookstores, or city reading rooms in the past year, with nearly 30 percent visiting at least once monthly.

Eco-conscious reading is also on the rise: 75.3 percent of residents support book recycling initiatives.

Youth-driven secondhand book exchanges are thriving, promoting a circular economy for literature.

Sources: Jiefang Daily, School of Media and Communications of Shanghai Jiao Tong University