China's box office revenue for this year's summer movie season, which spans from June 1 to Aug 31, had surpassed 9.3 billion yuan (about 1.3 billion U.S. dollars) as of 16:18 Monday.
The top three films leading the box office chart are blockbuster comedy "Successor", crime thriller "A Place Called Silence” and drama "Moments We Shared".
The summer moviegoing period is the longest single screening season on the Chinese mainland. In 2023, the summer box office totaled 20.6 billion yuan (about 2.88 billion U.S. dollars).
In addition to watching the latest movies, moviegoers in Nanchang City, east China's Jiangxi Province, can also invite friends or join online groups to request special screenings of previously released films at local cinemas.
"Some less popular or classic films are rarely shown in cinemas, but we can still watch these classics through this customized service," said Deng Di, a local resident.
Since the customized service was launched in March 2023, it has been implemented at more than 4,000 cinemas, with 15,000 screenings of 66 films required by moviegoers. Besides movies, recorded operas and dramas were also screened at over 300 screening venues in 24 cities during the just-concluded 2024 NCPA (National Center for the Performing Arts) International Opera Film Exhibition, which ran from May 20 to July 31.
"We brought some of our own operas, dance dramas, and modern plays to the cinema. This year's exhibition had the largest scale and the highest film presentation quality, with relatively high attendance rates," said Sun Di, deputy director of the film and television program production department of the NCPA.
China's 2024 summer box office surpasses 9.3 billion yuan
A special cultural event celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) was held in Berlin, Germany on Saturday.
Titled "Written in the Sky: My China Story," the event was jointly organized by China Media Group (CMG), the Chinese Embassy in Germany, and the Center for Language Education and Cooperation under China's Ministry of Education.
During the event, the John Rabe Communication Center, the German Burg Chinese Chorus, the Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade, and the Federation of Germany-China Friendship Association officially joined the global partnership program of the "Written in the Sky: My China Story" campaign and were awarded certificates on Saturday.
The German Burg Chinese Chorus performed classic Chinese and German songs, including "On Wings of Song" and "Jasmine Flower." The Shenzhou-18 crew, currently in orbit, sent a video message from the space station and interacted with German teenagers.
The attendees of the event held in Berlin agreed that as the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative have gained increasing global support, China has not only brought opportunities to the world but also built bridges of friendship with people from various countries.
Attendees wrote their wishes for the PRC's 75th anniversary, expressing their commitment to continuing their stories with China to address global challenges and create a better future for humanity.
Shen Haixiong, president of CMG, stated that China aims to strengthen international people-to-people exchanges, promote dialogue among global civilizations, and enhance mutual understanding.
"We will portray the ultimate romantic warmth of Chinese culture, record the continuous legacy of human civilization, and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind," said Shen.
Chinese Ambassador to Germany Deng Hongbo noted that both China and Germany have a profound cultural heritage, and their mutual appreciation and exchange of knowledge have been ongoing.
In an era of challenges, Deng emphasized the need for strengthened communication and cooperation, expressing hope that more young Germans will learn Chinese, develop an interest in Chinese culture, visit China, and become ambassadors of Sino-German friendship and exchange.
Nearly 200 attendees from various sectors, including politics, culture, diplomacy, economy, and trade, as well as young teachers and students, participated in the event.
Multiple mainstream European media, such as Italy's il Giornale and EU Reporter, covered the event, reaching a total audience of nearly 15 million in Europe.
Launched in March this year, the campaign “Written in the Sky: My China Story” has collected more than 1,600 stories from China and over 60 countries across the globe. It will also be held in other countries, including the U.S., Canada, Russia, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Nigeria.
Special event celebrating 75th anniversary of founding of PRC held in Berlin
