Data from Ningbo Library shows that between 2012 and 2014, the rate of adults and children borrowing books from the library increased steadily. In 2014, the numbers reached a high with 1.36 million people borrowing 3.42 million books from the library.

The biggest increase came from young readers, who showed an interest in a wide range of topics. The rising literacy of Ningbo citizens has been well-noted, as in 2014 Ningbo topped Amazon.com’s list of the country’s most literate cities.