Chinese Internet users spent a record time online in 2006, while young students continue to be the largest group using the Web, said the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) yesterday.

Chinese Internet users spent an average of 16.9 hours online each week, compared with 15.9 hours in 2005 and 8.5 hours in 2001.

Wang Enhai, an official with the CNNIC, which has been tracking the Internet industry since 1997, said the usage time was higher than many mature Internet markets, showing its strong influence on user's lives in China.