Beijingers rank mountain climbing, camping and going to concerts as their favorite pastimes, said a report issued by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

In a survey, 11.2 percent of interviewees preferred mountain climbing, and 10.2 percent preferred camping, the report said.

Titled "The Development Report on China's Cultural Industry: 2006", the document featured Beijing as a cultural market with great potential, since the city has inherited many cultural relics as well as intangible achievements.

"In 2010, Beijing residents will spend 70.2 billion yuan (US$8.775 billion) on cultural-related activities, without counting the spending of the three million migrant people who temporarily live in the city," the report said.

Meanwhile, the report showed that the number of people visiting cinemas has seen a decline, from 17.8 percent of the total interviewees in 2003 to 2004's 12.4 percent and 12.2 percent in 2005.

Experts explained many people think that attending cinemas is "not necessary" given the easy availability of DVDs.

(Xinhua News Agency January 16, 2006)