Yao Ming appears in Shenzhen to launch the "One Hour of Screen-Free Time Every Day" initiative: advocating for a balanced online-and-offline lifestyle.
“We don’t oppose scientific progress or the convenience brought by digital tools, but we do need to strike a balance between online and offline life.” On April 23, Yao Ming appeared in Shenzhen to lend his support to the city’s “Turn Off Your Screen for One Hour Every Day” initiative.
On the same day, the 30th World Book Day and the 10th Shenzhen Youth Reading Day series of events kicked off at the North Branch of Shenzhen Library. During the launch ceremony, Shenzhen took the lead nationwide by issuing a city-wide initiative titled "Turn Off Screens for One Hour Each Day—Embrace Reading, Sports, and Nature."
National People's Congress representative and founder of the Yao Foundation, Yao Ming, also attended the event. He urged all Shenzhen residents to join him in actively responding to this initiative—putting down their phones and dedicating more time to reading, exercising, connecting with nature, and fully embracing and enjoying the real world.
Shenzhen launches initiative "Turn off Your Screen for One Hour Every Day"
The "China Report on the Development of Online Audiovisual Media (2024)" reveals that, as of December 2023, Chinese mobile internet users averaged 435 minutes of daily screen time per person—many are willingly "trapped within the digital realm." But if we step away from our screens, what will fill the "empty spaces" in our lives? To address this, Shenzhen launched a groundbreaking initiative on this year's World Book Day ("423"), encouraging people to "turn off their screens for an hour each day and embrace reading, exercise, and nature," urging everyone to occasionally "rest their eyes"—lifting their heads to savor the scent of books and reconnect with the natural world.
The initiative is spearheaded by the Shenzhen Municipal Committee's Publicity Department, in collaboration with the Municipal Education Bureau, the Municipal Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism, and Sports Bureau, as well as organizations like the Youth League, Women's Federation, and the Municipal Library.
"We propose turning off our screens for one hour each day—taking a break from the digital flood to immerse ourselves in the timeless allure of books, savoring the rich scent of ink and paper. It’s an opportunity to reconnect with physical activity, embrace the tranquility of nature, and truly appreciate the beauty of the mountains and seas. In this one hour, let the pages of a book and the rhythm of your own sweat guide you toward a serene, balanced, and fulfilling life."
"We propose establishing a half-day ‘Family Screen-Free Day’ every weekend, holiday, and during school breaks. No matter how captivating the online world or how advanced artificial intelligence may be, nothing can compare to the joy of parent-child reading, sharing, and meaningful conversation. On Family Screen-Free Day, why not spend time with your kids—reading picture books, telling stories, playing hide-and-seek, or even chasing kites together? Let’s cherish these moments of togetherness and growth, creating lasting memories of warmth within your family."
During this year's Two Sessions, Yao Ming's proposal to "mobilize minors to participate in a 24-hour screen-off initiative" sparked widespread online discussion. Upon learning that Shenzhen would launch the initiative "One Hour of Screen Off Every Day—Reading, Exercising, and Loving Nature," he felt deeply encouraged.
At the launch ceremony, Yao Ming said: "Hello, friends in Shenzhen—I'm Yao Ming. We hit it off immediately when we came to Shenzhen this time, and I'd like to thank Shenzhen for the warm invitation."
Yao Ming told reporters that the initiative "Turn off screens for one hour each day, and embrace reading, sports, and nature" closely aligns with his suggestions made during the Two Sessions. He said, "We don’t oppose scientific progress or the convenience brought by digital tools—but we do need to strike a balance between online and offline lifestyles."
He called on all Shenzhen residents to join him in actively embracing this initiative—putting down their phones and making more time for reading, exercising, connecting with nature, and fully immersing themselves in—and enjoying—the real world.
Yao Ming Shares Life Lessons in Shenzhen
At the launch ceremony, Yao Ming also shared with the audience the first books his parents ever gave him—*5,000 Years of Chinese History* and *5,000 Years of World History*. He said: "Reading often means stepping into someone else's shoes through the pages of a book, while sports are all about truly feeling your own experiences. Similarly, short videos allow us to experience others' lives firsthand. Just as fast-food restaurants are essential on every street—occasional indulgence is perfectly fine—but we shouldn’t rely on fast food for every meal. Instead, we should strike a healthy balance by pairing nutritious, wholesome meals with those quick, convenient options."
He mentioned that to gain more life experiences, one must learn to make choices—knowing what to keep and what to let go. During the interview, Yao Ming also shared his personal "addition and subtraction" approach to life with reporters: adding means continuously exploring what you’re capable of, while subtracting involves recognizing your limitations. "When something new catches your interest, it’s a great opportunity to add something new to your life. But sometimes, after taking that first step, you realize you might not actually be good at it—and that’s when you may need to step back."
He also shared his own example: he plays as a center forward but once tried switching to striker or even defender—only to realize it wasn’t a good fit. That’s when he decided to simplify things, focusing exclusively on mastering the center-forward role.
Yao Ming also visited the North Branch of the Shenzhen Library, where he stepped into the intelligent, three-dimensional book repository located three levels underground—and was awed by the towering bookshelves, which stretched over 20 meters high. "The North Branch is truly beautiful. If our cities could have more reading spaces and venues like this, I’m confident that encouraging people to put down their screens for just one hour each day wouldn’t be too difficult," Yao Ming said.
Descendants of General Ye Ting donate thematic documents on-site
According to reports, Shenzhen took the lead nationwide in 2023 by launching the construction of a "City of Libraries." In 2016, it also became the first city in China to introduce "reading legislation," providing legal safeguards for citizens' right to read. Over the past 25 years, Shenzhen's annual Book Month has hosted more than 10,000 events in total, giving rise to renowned initiatives such as the "Top 10 Books of the Year" and the "Top 10 Children's Books of the Year." Additionally, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong "Shared Reading Dual-City" initiative has steadily advanced cultural exchanges and fostered deeper connections between the two cities over the past three years. This year, adult residents of Shenzhen averaged 22 books read annually. The city’s "City of Libraries" boasts an extensive network of 1,201 service points—comprising 879 public libraries and 322 self-service library stations—while the unified library system has facilitated over 200 million book loans and returns to date.
Shenzhen Library has long been committed to collecting, organizing, and preserving local Shenzhen literature, safeguarding the city’s cultural heritage. To amplify the exemplary impact and influence of donations, a special ceremony was held on-site to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of Shenzhen’s Special Economic Zone. During the event, Mr. Ye Daying, a renowned screenwriter and director and descendant of General Ye Ting, along with Ms. Ye Xiaoyan, Honorary Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Ye Ting Memorial Hall, presented Shenzhen Library with valuable literature centered around General Ye Ting’s legacy. In response, Wang Bing, Chairman of the Shenzhen Library Information and Intelligence Association and Deputy Director of Shenzhen Library, accepted the donation and personally presented the donors with a certificate of appreciation.
Text and photos by Wang Na, Guangzhou Daily Xinhuacheng Reporter
Video / Guangzhou Daily reporter: Wang Na
Guangzhou Daily, Xin Huacheng Editor: Luo Lin
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