China's digital reading market grows 19.6% in 2018

HANGZHOU -- The value of China's digital reading market reached 25.5 billion yuan ($3.8 billion) last year, up 19.6 percent year on year, according to an industry report published on Friday.

Last year, about 432 million Chinese read digital publications on electronic devices, such as personal computers, mobile phones, tablet computers and e-readers, according to the report released by China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association.

The respondents read an average of 12.4 digital publications per person last year, and over 66 percent said they were willing to pay for digital publications, according to the report.

The report also said the advent of the 5G era would improve the reading experience for Chinese readers.

Sun Shoushan, director of China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association, said cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain were expected to boost the development of China's digital reading industry.