The Chinese animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 garnered widespread praise from audiences in New York after its U.S. debut on Friday.
At a landmark cinema on Broadway, Manhattan, Ne Zha 2 and Captain America: Brave New World both officially premiered on Friday and the two films snatched the most screenings.
The audiences gave thumbs up for the film's Chinese elements, animation effects and production quality, saying it offers an opportunity to learn about the Chinese culture.
"I think it is great. The production quality has also improved significantly. Additionally, the film incorporates various traditional Chinese elements," said a Chinese moviegoer.
"This is something that's for all ages. You can learn something from [it], and maybe get insight into a culture. There are moments in the animation that are really striking visually. And the animation, you can tell the technique behind it all is very beautiful. Every cinema I've seen has been packed. So, there's obviously a hunger for films like this and films to learn more about other cultures," said Zac, a U.S. moviegoer.
Following its monumental success in China, where it has already amassed over 10 billion yuan (approximately 1.37 billion U.S. dollars) as of Thursday, the film has begun captivating audiences in select overseas markets, including the United States, Australia and Canada.
China’s Ne Zha 2 blockbuster wins sweeping acclaim in New York
China’s Ne Zha 2 blockbuster wins sweeping acclaim in New York
Ice and snow activities have attracted more visitors across China during the three-day New Year holiday that began on Thursday, with destinations upgrading services and introducing new experiences to boost winter tourism and consumption.
At the Jizhou International Ski Resort in north China's Tianjin, visitor numbers have surged during the holiday. To accommodate demand, the resort has opened 11 ski runs, added new snow-making equipment, upgraded more than 5,000 sets of ski gear, and deployed over 200 professional instructors.
To meet visitors' needs, the resort also has offered two free public classes each day to help beginners master basic skills and safety knowledge. Shuttle bus services have been expanded between nearby hotels and the resort, providing seamless transportation for guests.
"There are shuttle buses from the hotel to the ski resort every 20 minutes, wich I think is a very good service," said Ma Xinping, a tourist.
Hotels in the surrounding area have also benefited from the rising popularity of ice-and-snow tourism.
"Hotel rooms were nearly fully booked during the holiday, and this year's revenue is expected to increase by more than 50 percent compared with previous years," said Zong Qinghe, general manager of the Tianjin Jizhou International Ski Resort.
Meanwhile, Huangshan City in east China's Anhui Province is also tapping into its winter tourism potential by rolling out new ice-and-snow-themed attractions.
At an ice-and-snow entertainment venue in the city's Changyuan Village, snowmaking machines have been operating continuously, creating a winter wonderland where children have been building snowmen, having snowball fights and enjoying snow slides amid laughter and excitement.
"I built a snowman and had a snowball fight here. I'm really happy," said Chen Xiaohan, a tourist.
According to Wang Fei, head of the venue, the whole place is divided into three main zones, including a photo-taking area, a snow-play area and a slide zone. She added that the attraction received nearly 30,000 visits in the first two days of the New Year holiday.
China's ice and snow tourism gains momentum during New Year holiday
