China's comprehensive reading rate was 76.3 percent in 2012, 1.3 percentage points lower than in 2011, according to a report published by the Chinese Academy of Press and Publication on April 18.
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Book reading rate among Chinese between 18 and 70 was 54.9 percent in 2012, 1 percentage point higher than in 2011. Digital reading rate (online, mobile phone, e-book) was 40.3 percent, 1.7 percentage points higher than in 2011.
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But due to the fall in newspaper reading rate, the comprehensive reading rate fell from 77.6 percent to 76.3 percent.
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Chinese read 4.39 books on average in 2012, compared with 4.35 in 2011. That is far behind some countries.
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Koreans read 11 books on average in 2011, French 8.4, Japanese about 8.4, the US citizens 7, according to the 2011 International Publishing Blue Book.
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The 10 most popular writers by Chinese readers in 2012 were: Mo Yan, Jin Yong (Louis Cha), Lu Xun, Han Han, Chiung Yao, Lao She, Guo Jingming, Cao Xueqin, Ba Jin and Bing Xin.
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The 10 most read books by Chinese readers in 2012 were: The Dream of Red Chamber, Romance of Three Kingdoms, Outlaws of the Marsh, Journey to the West, Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, Red Sorghum Clan, Frog, Fortress Besieged, How the Steel Was Tempered, and Big Breasts & Wide Hips.Â