Mainland bloggers reach 20 million

The number of internet bloggers in China hit 20.8 million at the end of 2006, with more than three million web-users regularly posting their writings, AFP reported, citing the China Internet Survey Report 2007 quoted in state media. Web logs in China took 101 million hits in 2006, the survey showed. Government concerns over the rise of blogging has prompted it to consider new rules requiring all users to register with their real names before blogging, the report said. The survey report said Chinese web surfers spent an average of US$22 dollars every month on the internet, including the costs of web access, online shopping and games. This compares with US$18 in 2005, it said. At the end of 2006, China boasted 132 million online users, up 19% from the previous year, earlier reports said.