China's 2025 summer movie season has set a new attendance record with over 300 million cinema admissions as of 17:00 Tuesday, exceeding the 2024 summer period's total, according to online ticketing platform data.
By 18:01, total box office revenue for the season had reached 11.2 billion yuan (about 1.54 billion U.S. dollars), driven by a diverse lineup of historical epics, animated films, comedies and suspense thrillers.
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China's summer box office surpasses 300 million admissions
China's summer box office surpasses 300 million admissions
China's summer box office surpasses 300 million admissions
China's summer box office surpasses 300 million admissions
The historical drama "Dead to Rights" led the charts with 2.7 billion yuan in ticket sales since its July 25 release, setting a new record for historical films in China's summer cinema history.
"Dead to Rights" has won critical praise around the world for its unflinching depiction of the horrors committed during the Nanjing Massacre.
Coming in second was the animated film "Nobody," which has grossed 1.3 billion yuan, placing it eighth among all animated movies in China and setting a new record for 2D animation. The story unfolds in the background of the 16th-century classic "Journey to the West," offering a fresh perspective that has resonated with audiences of all ages.
China's summer box office surpasses 300 million admissions
China's summer box office surpasses 300 million admissions
China's summer box office surpasses 300 million admissions
China's summer box office surpasses 300 million admissions
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
