China's blockbuster 'Ne Zha 2' enters Top 50 of global box office chart

Chinese animated film "Ne Zha 2" became the first Asian film to enter the Top 50 of the global box office chart, according to data from an online platform.

According to Chinese ticketing platform Beacon, "Ne Zha 2," a sequel to the 2019 hit featuring a mythical boy with magical powers and exceptional martial arts skills, grossed over 7.503 billion yuan (over 1.03 billion U.S. dollars) as of 23:30 Beijing Time on Saturday.

This figure surpassed the box office earnings of " Despicable Me 3," an American comedy 3D animation released in 2017. “Ne Zha 2” has since become the first non-Hollywood film to enter the Top 10 of the global animation box office list.

"Ne Zha 2" premiered in Chinese cinemas on Jan 29, alongside other films such as "Detective Chinatown 1900" and "Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force." Together, these films helped the Chinese New Year holiday box office revenue reach a historic milestone of 10 billion yuan (about 1.4 billion U.S. dollars).

China's blockbuster 'Ne Zha 2' enters Top 50 of global box office chart

China's blockbuster 'Ne Zha 2' enters Top 50 of global box office chart

China's blockbuster 'Ne Zha 2' enters Top 50 of global box office chart

China's blockbuster 'Ne Zha 2' enters Top 50 of global box office chart

China Media Group (CMG) on Wednesday aired a grand New Year gala to welcome the arrival of 2026 with celebrations focused on the richness of Chinese culture, and blending traditional arts with contemporary creativity in a nationwide showcase of unity and joy.

Titled "Sail into 2026," the gala was staged in Lyuliang City, north China's Shanxi Province, and featured over 60 meticulously crafted performances. From vibrant song and dance routines to performances of traditional Chinese instrumental music, opera and martial arts, the gala embraced a wide variety of artistic styles, reflecting the depth of cultural heritage and the spirit of contemporary innovation.

The show vividly captured regional transformations across China, from the innovative dynamism of the Yangtze River Delta in east China to the cultural vitality of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in the northern part of the country. It also presented the energetic harmony of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area city cluster in the south, as well as heartfelt New Year wishes from China's Taiwan region.

The gala also shone a spotlight on ordinary individuals who made a difference in 2025. It also featured fresh works from a new wave of public cultural creators. Through these stories and performances, the gala offered a panoramic celebration of people nationwide joyfully embracing the New Year, together painting a hopeful picture of peace, prosperity and unity.

The gala was broadcast live at 20:00 on December 31 across CMG platforms including CCTV-1, CCTV-3, major radio frequencies, and new media outlets such as CCTV News.

CMG presents culture-rich New Year Gala to ring in 2026