(Photo: CGTN)

According to a newly released joint report by the National Academy of Economic Strategy and Tourism Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the average leisure time of Chinese people has decreased to 2.27 hours per day in 2017 from 2.55 hours three years ago.

The 2018 Green Book of China's Leisure is the sixth report since 2009 focusing on Chinese people's leisure time, vacations, healthcare and sports. It was released in Beijing on Friday.

Chinese residents in four first-tier cities have the least daily leisure time, with only 1.94 hours in Shenzhen, 2.04 hours in Guangzhou, 2.14 hours in Shanghai, and 2.25 hours in Beijing. These leisure times are nearly half those of the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom, the report said.

The Leisure Economy Research Center of Renmin University of China found that Beijing residents demand more and more leisure time, but only 34.2% residents can enjoy all weekend off, only 62.9% of residents can get paid vacation, people urgently need more leisure time.

Leisure time has become a vital element affecting residents' satisfaction with the quality of life, even more important than income in recent years. However, it is by no means easy for the government to help give residents more leisure time through reforming vocational and working systems, according to the report.