A recent survey by Insight China magazine shows that biographies are the favorite type of books read by Chinese officials, Legal Evening News reports.

Officials at different levels all expressed great interest in reading. More than 65 percent of the more than 140 officials questioned in the survey said they "very like" reading books and 34.8 percent said they "like" reading.

Most of the people surveyed are mayor-level officials while the one with highest rank is at minister-level.

Books about literature and politics are also favorites for Chinese officials. They also showed interest in readings about the economy, health and tourism.

More than 50 percent of those surveyed said they selected books based on the demands of their work.

"Officials will feel under pressure if they do not read because only after you read books could you communicate with more people,"said Wang Changjiang, a professor at the Party School of the Central Committee of Communist Party of China.

"It's impossible for me to stop reading and studying. If so, I will be left behind," said a party official who refused to give his name.

Although busy with their work, Chinese officials tend to squeeze some time to read books. The survey showed 35.1 percent of the officials questioned spent 10 to 14 hours a week on reading. Another 26 percent preferred to use seven to nine hours.

"Every time I travel to other cities for business, I always bring books and magazines with me. It's better to read than just sit idle on a journey," Nanjing's Vice-Mayor Chen Gang was quoted as saying.

Books frequently mentioned by officials as their favorites included The World Is Flat, Chasing Daylight and Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government.