The book purchase rate remained at 1.75 book per family last year, but the number of people reading online is growing.

"The trend of online reading overtaking traditional book reading is irreversible," said Zheng Baowei, a communication researcher with the Renmin University of China. "But the next question is，can the Internet provide food for thought as good as print."

"It is still a rare habit for people to read on subways," said mother Ellen Deng, who said she will pass on her habit with books to her daughter.

By：Wang Nan