Shenzheners read an average of 22 books in 2024

Adults in Shenzhen read an average of 22 books last year, including 9.21 printed books, according to a municipal report on reading released to mark the 30th World Book Day and the 10th Shenzhen Minors' Book Reading Day, both of which fell on the same day yesterday.

Visitors crowd a main hall at Shenzhen Book City CBD Store in Futian. Shenzhen Publishing Group

Local residents spent an average of 70.45 minutes per day reading on mobile phones and 103.17 minutes reading on computers. However, the report indicated a decline in entertainment reading. Instead, people primarily focused on skill enhancement through online textbooks and data processing using spreadsheets.

Readers immerse themselves in books at the Shenzhen Library North Division yesterday. Liu Xudong 

According to the report, Shenzhen has long led the nation in per capita book purchases. In 2024, the average Shenzhen resident bought 15.68 printed books and 17.03 e-books.

In terms of book collections, residents owned an average of 65.2 printed books, a figure that far exceeded the growth rate of e-books. This underscores that e-books primarily serve as a tool for fragmented reading to meet the need for instant knowledge acquisition, while printed books are more valued for their tangible presence and collectability.

Pedestrians pass by the Shenzhen Library North Division in Longhua District. Photo from WeChat account "深圳发布"

By the end of 2024, Shenzhen had 879 public libraries and 322 self-service libraries, equating to one library service point for every 15,000 people.

The report revealed that the majority of readers were between the ages of 18 and 44. Their reading preferences leaned heavily towards classic masterpieces, documentary literature, science-fiction, and the original works behind popular TV shows.

The city’s vibrant reading culture is further fueled by a dynamic calendar of over a thousand reading events each year. During the 25th Shenzhen Reading Month, more than 2,500 events engaged millions of residents.