Readers at a 24-hour bookstore in Beijing

Zhao Wenjing, a psychology major at a university in North China's Hebei province, reads a magazine at the 24-hour Sanlian Taofen Bookstore at 0:14 am in Beijing on April 19, 2016. Zhao said this is the second time she has visited the store, though she has been to the capital thrice. [Photo/Xinhua]

On average, Chinese people read eight books in 2015, a small increase over previous year, though the rise may be attributed partly to digital reading since printed books are not handy for purchasing or lending in some rural areas, according to finding on reading issued by the Chinese Academy of Press and Publication on Monday, ahead of World Book Day on Saturday.