Amazon China released its annual list of the most well-read cities in China and named Baotou the most book-loving city in China on Dec 16.

Alongside Baotou, Huaian, Jinhua, Hohhot, Lanzhou, Urumchi, Hefei, Weifang, Wenzhou and Zhengzhou also appear on the list, taking the first 10 places between them. Reading is gaining in popularity throughout lower-tier cities in China, with most of the top 10 cities on the Amazon list being second and third-tier cities.

A teacher monitors students reading in Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region. [Photo/wenming.cn]

The most popular books among Baotou residents in 2016 were books concerning English tests and computer exams. Novels including The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and Grief Grocery Store by Higashino Keigo, were among the top-selling books.

Baotou, the largest city of North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region, is looking to promote reading among its residents and has successfully hosted the 26th National Book Expo. Starting on July 28, the book expo was attended by delegations and publishers from 44 provinces and cities across China, who brought with them an estimated 200,000 books for one of the greatest events for readers in China.

Attendees at the 26th National Book Expo in Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on July 28. The event saw record sales volumes of more than 4 billion yuan ($600 million). [Photo/wenming.cn]

Feng Chuanyou, one of the top readers who received an award at the book expo, expressed his excitement on winning the city’s title and said that he was more than happy to witness the popularization of reading in the city.

To make the city more bookish, Baotou has hosted citywide reading festivals for five consecutive years. More than 300 reading activities have been hosted in the city so far, attracting more than 1.5 million residents to participate. Famous authors were invited to give lectures in the city.

Reading is becoming increasingly fashionable in Baotou, with a total of more than 300 reading associations established.

Yu Qiuyu, one of the most well-known contemporary Chinese cultural and literary figures, gives a lecture on Chinese culture in Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region. [Photo/wenming.cn]

More than 500 books have been scattered on buses in Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, to promote public literacy. [Photo/wenming.cn]