More than 31 percent of people said they have intentions to donate blood for the first time, according to a survey run by a digital advertising company.

The survey, including 423,685 participants from Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen in Guangdong province, showed 58.6 percent said they have never donated blood with more than half adding that they would be willing to.

Starting in September last year in an effort to encourage more people to give, Shanghai residents can make an appointment for blood donation through interactive touch screens in taxis.