A recent survey showed that adult residents in Ningbo read an average of 4.99 paper books in 2019, while the figure for minors in the city was 9.93.

The survey, conducted by the Ningbo municipal bureau of press and publication and the China Academy of Press and Publication, was launched in November of last year and lasted for over three months. 

It was concluded that 90.8 percent of adults in the city read things such as books, newspapers, and digital publications in 2019, 0.5 percentage points higher than in 2018 and much higher than the national average of 80.8 percent. 

Yinzhou district led the city with a rate of 92.2 percent, followed by Haisu, Fenghua, Zhenhai, and Cixi. 

Ningbo adults preferred to buy books rather than borrowing, the survey showed. 

Adult residents bought an average of 5.53 books in 2019, and nearly 60 percent (58.9%) of adults surveyed said they bought at least one book in 2019. 

More than 84.4 percent of adults surveyed said they bought books, while the rest opted to borrow books from libraries or other places. 

The survey found that adults in the city were highly interested in reading activities, with more than 60 percent of residents hoping local authorities would hold more reading activities and festivals. Nearly 40 percent of local adults said they read only a little or not at all. 

A regulation to promote reading in the city took effect on April 1, making it the first city in Zhejiang province to promote reading through legislation.

The legislation will further clarify the responsibilities of various departments and help tackle reading-related problems in the city, such as the unequal distribution of reading facilities and an insufficient supply of reading services, experts noted.