As one of the many varieties of reading, online reading requires readers to spend time and money. More importantly, this type of reading is not as pleasant as the relaxed method of traditional reading in a comfortable chair. It's all right for Yu to describe online reading as a disaster, but reading as a whole can never be tagged as a disaster.

Yu says travel is more important to gaining cultural experience than reading. While travel is beneficial, it can't be a substitute for reading. On the contrary, only after reading can one feel the cultural significance of his travel and visits. Meanwhile, not everyone is able to travel as he pleases and for those who can't afford the expensive journeys, reading books is a more practical way to learn about the world.

Zhao Zhijiang (gb.cri.cn): As I see it, by strongly opposing the proposal of "national reading day," Yu Qiuyu wants to convey that in the information age only a small number of books are inspiring, excellent works, and that in most cases reading is a waste of time. So Yu suggests travel and even writing. I'm afraid he has overestimated the financial and writing capability of the ordinary Chinese. For most Chinese, neither do they have enough money to travel around, nor are they capable of writing books. They only want to enrich their lives and improve themselves. For this purpose, reading may be the simplest and most convenient channel.

Besides, since we are living in the information age, it's unrealistic to avoid reading. The proposal of a "national reading day" can be set aside for the time being, but reading is a permanent topic. For ordinary people, it is still the ladder of progress.

"Reading day" not panacea

Hao Jixing (www.hexun.com): Reading is important, but designating a "national reading day" is going too far. I'm afraid the so-called reading day will be unable to fulfill our expectations. There are too many examples of the failure of such special days. For instance, in order to enhance the status of teachers, we have Teachers' Day (September 10). However, except for that very day, little attention is paid to teachers' rights and interests. In China, it is common for these designated days to fail to convey the significance for which they are designed.

Reading is only a kind of hobby and a way to get information and to expand one's knowledge. There is no lack of reading. Apart from traditional reading, modern technologies are providing us with more convenient ways of reading, like going online.

The ruffled state of Chinese minds is more a result of rapid social and economic development and the accelerating pace of life than a result of limited reading. It is because the public is eager to live a better material life that they begin to neglect reading.

Reading brings much pleasure and tranquility and helps to enrich people's lives. It can also consolidate our national culture. It's more than just a hobby, it needs to be a desire. In my view, one campaign like launching a "national reading day" would be unhelpful to cultivate or develop this habit or inspire this desire among the whole Chinese nation.

Chi Mo (www.eastday.com): This is a time of too many special days. Traditional Chinese festivals, world commemorative days-almost every day is a festival or big day to be commemorated or celebrated. As a result, we are gradually losing interest in them and even feel annoyed when they come along. In this sense, I can't see a bright prospect for the proposed "national reading day."

Even if "national reading day" becomes a reality, it will not necessarily help to develop the Chinese nation's habit of reading. Nowadays, people are too busy in making money to spend time on reading. For those who have stopped studying, it's almost too difficult for them to spare time for reading.

The proposal of a "national reading day" is a well-intended suggestion, but it takes too many things for granted. A single day alone is unable to encourage the whole nation to pick up books. If the result is a foreseeable failure, why do we take the trouble to do it? If this commemorative day is made a festival, I'm sure it will be just another waste of time and money.

Liu Chuhan (www.xinhuanet. com): The debate on "national reading day" has lasted for some time. Yu Qiuyu's involvement in the discussion has further fueled the dispute. It's totally unexpected that a scholar as famous as Yu has expressed his opposition to the "national reading day" proposal.

Having heard of so many heated debates, I can't help asking: Is "national reading day" more important than reading itself? Suppose the "national reading day" was a reality, then what could we expect from it?

Actually, many factors are responsible for the falling number of readers in China, cultural, economic and educational reasons. Without careful investigation and analysis on why people read so little, we can hardly expect the so-called "national reading day" to be of any help.

As for the importance of reading and the significance of travel and personal experience, I think it's unwise to make a comparison between the two. Reading mechanically should be denounced, but without enough reading, travel and visits to places of interest are nothing but simple trips that have nothing to do with culture. Such journeys may even be a waste of time.