BEIJING - A survey has found 67.2 percent of Chinese children begin learning English before the age of 5, the China Youth Daily reported on Friday.

According to the survey, 59.4 percent of respondents started learning English between the ages of 3 and 5, while 7.8 percent of those surveyed began studying before the age of 3.

It also showed 75.1 percent of Chinese children learn English for more than one hour each day, with 57 percent of interviewees studying the language between one and two hours, 11 percent studying for two to three hours while 7.1 percent studied for more than three hours daily.

English learning has come to be viewed as very important, but Chinese children's ability to use the language is unbalanced, said the newspaper.

The survey was conducted by the China Youth and Children Research Association, Beijing Education Institute, www.k618.cn and RISE English language training center.