Though e-books are increasingly preferred by Chinese readers, young people long for the return of bookstores, according to a survey of 2,001 people.
A total of 81.7 percent of respondents said they wish they had a bookstore in their neighborhood, according to results published Friday by the China Youth Daily.
The survey showed 65.9 percent of respondents said they are more accustomed to reading paper books, while 20.1 percent developed their reading habits on electronic screens, including mobile phones, computers and tablets.
Interestingly, the younger the respondents, the more enthusiasm they showed toward bookstores and paper books.
Among interviewees from the "post-90s" generation, 68.1 percent said they prefer reading paper books. On the contrary, the majority of readers born in the 1960s said they are not optimistic about bookstores.
Of the interviewees, 70.8 percent said bookstores are still attractive to customers, 64.7 percent consider book shops a place for sharing knowledge and 48.6 percent hope bookstores can serve as a coffee house environment for chatting and dating.
Sanlian Taofen Bookstore, one of the most popular in Beijing, already caters to youth. It has a coffee house and hosts activities such as book signings and reading parties.
