Bridging the reading gap in China

Consumer spend on high-quality and paid digital content witnesses steady growth

Zhang Zixuan, 27, a middle school teacher in Beijing, loves reading romantic books on her mobile phone app - WeChat Read. She has downloaded 15 books, and usually reads for one hour each day through the app.

"It is convenient for me to use in my spare time. I also listen to audio books through Ximalaya, a popular audio sharing platform, before I go to sleep, and spend money on programs I like," said Zhang, adding that she has paid 208 yuan ($29.5) for a one-year membership fee for the platform.