China is set to launch a major rural road upgrade initiative this year as part of efforts to accelerate the development of a modern rural transport network, according to the Ministry of Transport.
The country is continuing its efforts to align rural and urban planning at the county level, with plans to build or upgrade 100,000 kilometers of rural roads in 2025.
The initiative also aims to connect an additional 250 townships with Class-3 or higher-grade highways and pave concrete roads to reach a total of 12,000 natural villages with relatively large populations.
Efforts will also include renovation projects for 3,000 aging or hazardous bridges on rural roads and the implementation of maintenance projects across an additional 100,000 kilometers of rural roads.
In addition, the ministry will step up the digital transformation of rural road management. This includes establishing a digital archive for each road, known as the "one road, one file" system, and promoting automated monitoring of road conditions.
To support employment, the ministry will expand its work-relief program in transport infrastructure construction and maintenance, with the goal of stabilizing the number of jobs in rural road management and maintenance at 850,000.
"We will take a targeted approach to rural road construction and upgrades this year. Our focus will be on opening fast-access routes to key economic nodes, such as townships, renovating outdated roads, and widening rural roads that are too narrow in line with local conditions. At the same time, we're promoting the 'rural roads plus' model -- accelerating the construction of roads that support local business development, tourism, and resource transport -- to further promote the integrated development between transportation and the tourism and energy sectors," said Chen Wenliang, deputy director of the rural road department at the Ministry of Transport's highway bureau.
China to build, upgrade 100,000 km of rural roads in 2025
An industry observer said that 2026 is poised to be a "year of sequels and cultural stories" in global animation, following a strong 2025 where such films dominated box offices worldwide.
With heavyweights like Toy Story 5, Minions 3, and China's perennial favorite Boonie Bears set for release, along with culturally rooted productions such as The Three Kingdoms: War 1 Luoyang, the coming months are expected to draw large audiences and reinforce animation's central role in cinema.
This optimism is built on a solid foundation from the previous year.
Looking back at China's film market in 2025, animated features emerged as a powerful driving force. Four of the year's top 10 highest-grossing films were animations, three of which were domestic productions.
Total animation revenue exceeded 25 billion yuan (around 3.58 billion U.S. dollars), capturing nearly 50 percent of the annual box office. As the new year unfolds, the animation sector continues to shine with promising highlights.
A key trend driving this momentum is the surge of sequels from major franchises.
"One notable trend is the abundance of sequels to classic animated films, particularly from Hollywood. Several iconic series are releasing new installments, making 2026 a year of animated sequels. Given their strong IP foundation, these sequels are expected to attract more audiences' attention and achieve solid box office results," said Hu Jianli, secretary general of the Chinese Film Critics Society.
Alongside these international sequels, domestic animation IPs are also deepening their influence and expanding their reach. The annual Boonie Bears series will welcome its latest installment, while the popular TV series The Immortal Ascension is set for its big-screen debut.
"It's fair to say that the Boonie Bears series has maintained the most consistent quality among domestic animated film franchises over the years. Its expansion from television to movies, merchandise, and theme parks represents a fully developed industrial chain, greatly strengthening the IP's presence in the public consciousness. As for The Immortal Ascension, it's the first time that the animation IP is adapted for the big screen, which naturally generates exceptional attention—especially following the successful live-action web series last year. If this first animated film adaptation succeeds, it has the potential to become a major film IP in its own right," said Hu.
Beyond the reliance on established franchises, another significant creative trend is the growing number of animated films drawing inspiration from China's rich classical literature and historical epics. This approach aims to connect with audiences through deeply rooted cultural narratives.
A leading example is a prominent Chinese animation studio Light Chaser Animation's upcoming "The Three Kingdoms: War 1 Luoyang", which dramatizes the early power struggles from the famed historical period.
"We are seeing a clear increase in animated films adapted from classic Chinese novels and myths. Light Chaser Animation Studios' 'New Culture Series' has performed exceptionally well in our animated film market—for example, 30,000 Miles from Changan earned over 1.8 billion yuan (around 257.98 million U.S. dollars) at the box office. This series has truly succeeded in creatively transforming and innovatively developing China's outstanding traditional culture for the big screen, while also resonating emotionally with today's young audiences through its storytelling and character adaptations," said Hu.
Beyond sequels and adaptations rooted in traditional culture, original animated films are also carving out their space with unique concepts and distinctive styles, showcasing further creative possibilities.
Titles such as Arco, a 2025 animated science-fantasy film, and Pixar's Hoppers exemplify this trend of innovation.
"I believe animated films will remain a major force in the global box office in 2026. The worldwide top-grossing film of 2024 was Inside Out 2, and in 2025 it was China's Ne Zha 2. So I'm confident that animated films will once again rank among the highest-grossing releases globally this year," Hu said.
Animated films set to dominate 2026 global box office with strong lineup
