Full coverage: World Book and Copyright Day

Saturday will mark World Book Day, an occasion to encourage reading and publishing. A recent survey shows that Chinese are spending more time reading on their digital devices than paper books. And that reading has taken on multiple forms.

Lost in a world of words. This book store in a busy shopping center in east Beijing provides a relaxing environment for bookworms like Pan Yue.

"I come to the book store to see whether there are some new books and to check the best-seller of the month or the quarter, and to see if there's some book that I like," said reader Pan Yue.

But when she does, there's no rush to buy.

"When I find something I like, I will search the electronic versions online," Pan Yue said.

She leaves the store without a book, but her reading continues.

"I do enjoy e-reading, it's convenient and a good choice for us who have to ride long-time on the subway. With e-books I can find many resources online. It's the most convenient way," Pan Yue said.

A 2015 survey shows mobile devices have become the preferred way of reading and are making it more available.

More Chinese are settling down with a good book across a variety of platforms, and reading has become an increasingly fashionable social activity."

In cities like Beijing, you can easily find a book club, holding weekly activities at a coffee bar.

"Though reading is more like a personal thing, discussion about books are popular on social platforms. We can make new friends through a book we all love. And by meeting off-line, we take time to go deep into the text and exchange our views on the book or the writer," said He Jingtong, organizer of Solaris Book Club.

The club has more than 100 members, and it's considered a small one in Beijing.

"With multiple ways to read and so many books published every year, more than 400,000 titles in fact, how do you find a book you like or a high-quality book from the new releases? That's the challenge. The mushrooming of book clubs is more encouraging than statistics. It shows people's growing desire for reading. Besides, it shows that reading can be a lifestyle," said
Li Pan, host of TV program "Reading".

Digital devices are bringing books almost everywhere in daily life. And for a good page-turner, it doesn't matter whether it's screen or paper,