The fast-growing economy is causing Chinese to adapt to a faster pace of life even though the culture has long admired a leisure living style.

In an online survey, conducted by the Chinese news portal Sina.com, 56 percent of the people said they are short of time.

And 75 percent of the total surveyed said that people have little idea of how valuable time is, indicating that more people value and pursue a more time-efficient life style, according to the survey report.

In the survey, 64 percent said they have never been late and would not tolerate others to be late.

73 percent said they were busy most of the day; 56 percent acknowledged they spent most of their time in working and studying.

However, only 17 percent of the surveyed said that the best usethe time is to work or study. But 76 percent of the surveyed thought that in order to better use their time they should work more.

The report said the answers showed a big gap between Chinese's ideal life and reality. Their concept of time has changed partly because of mounting pressure to make more money.

A survey, conducted in 66 middle and primary schools in eight cities in southwest China's Guangxi Province, showed that adults are not the only ones under pressure in the country.

Students are overwhelmed by long school hours, piles of homework, and various after-school training, including home tutoring.

Middle school students usually have inadequate time for sleep. In the survey, 62 percent of the students in their last year in high school, who are preparing for the university entrance exam, slept less than seven hours each day and none met the eight-hour minimum set by the Ministry of Education.

The government issued a circular to release students from heavyburden of long school hours and homework, requiring primary and middle school students in their first three years to sleep at least nine hours a day and those in their last three years to spend eight hours in bed.

According to the survey, nearly half of the students in elementary and middle schools spent more time on homework each daythan the requirement of educational departments. Some parents evengave additional homework to their children.

Some 77 percent elementary students and 46 percent middle school students have various extracurricular training in their spare time, said the survey.

(Xinhua News Agency October 25, 2004)