According to a survey conducted by the China Research on Science Popularization, the majority of Chinese people have never visited a popular science museum due to the lack of such facilities, Xinhua Net reports.

The 6th Public Science Literacy Survey shows that only 9.3 percent of Chinese people went to science exhibitions or science and technology halls in 2004; 7.1 percent of the respondents had visited a museum of natural history; and 36.7 percent had visited popular science galleries open to the public.

The survey also shows that more than half of the people cited "facilities not available" as the main reason they did not go to science museums. Only 1.8 percent said "ticket prices are too high."

People in urban areas possess more science facilities than people living in rural areas. However, more city dwellers (19.6%) said they were not interested in them; while only 10.1 percent of people from the countryside expressed indifference.

Still, the majority of Chinese citizens had a positive attitude towards science according to the survey. 87.5 percent of them agreed, "Thanks to science and technology there are more opportunities for future generations." And 76 percent agreed, "Science and technology make our work easier and better."

(CRIENGLISH.com Jan. 3, 2007)