China's box office closed out 2025 at record levels, cementing its position as one of the world's most powerful film markets.
The 2025 box office revenue in the country totaled 51.8 billion yuan (about 7 billion U.S. dollars), up nearly 22 percent year on year, according to the China Film Administration on Thursday.
Strong domestic releases and sustained audience demand pushed annual revenue to new highs, extending China's box-office growth streak.
"Over the years, China has refreshed box office records again and again - from Hollywood blockbusters like 'Avengers' and 'Avatar' to now 'Zootopia 2', to local productions like 'The Wandering Earth' and 'NeZha 2'. This market shows great potential and is still waiting for many filmmakers to explore," said Will Zang, a film publicist.
"Zootopia 2" became Walt Disney Animation Studios' highest grossing movie of all time, earning 1.46 billion U.S. dollars worldwide, with more than 500 million U.S. dollars coming from China. While Chinese audiences brought international box-office success to some Hollywood productions, Chinese productions have also ramped up their reach abroad.
Meanwhile, Chinese films achieved notable international success in 2025, screening in 46 countries and regions worldwide and serving as a vital cultural bridge by enhancing global audiences’ understanding of China.
Among the Chinese films that made an impact, "Dead to Rights," had a particularly powerful story to tell. It recounts events during the Nanjing Massacre, a series of war crimes during WWII that are often forgotten in the West.
"We heard about the story of Nanjing, of how the Japanese -- it was a genocide back then -- that we weren't even aware of. So, really looking forward to it," said Brian Abell, an American film enthusiast in Los Angeles.
The thriving Chinese market, marked by record-breaking revenue, provides fertile ground for both domestic and international films. Analysts pointed out that the Chinese market's remarkable diversity includes documentaries, arthouse films from international festivals, and niche imports from Europe, all of which have found dedicated audiences.
2025 was the fifth year that China's annual box office has crossed the 50-billion-yuan threshold, following 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2023. According to movie data platform Maoyan, China contributed nearly 24 percent of the global box office in 2025, trailing only North America, which accounted for roughly 29 percent.
As the market continues to grow, its diversity and global prominence will likely shape the future of cinema both in China and around the world.
2025 marks blockbuster year for China's domestic box office, global appeal
2025 marks blockbuster year for China's domestic box office, global appeal
Coffee estates in Pu'er City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, are offering a new kind of holiday experience, combining farming, tourism and China's growing coffee culture.
As the New Year holiday spurs travel, visitors are arriving at coffee estates in Pu'er, looking for a slower, calmer way to welcome the year ahead.
"The air here is great, and the overall vibe is very relaxing. We can also learn a lot about coffee, and it's especially fun for kids," said Zhang Boai, a tourist from Beijing.
"I'm really, really excited. Coming here today and seeing such a large coffee plantation, with different kinds of cherries -- red, green, deep red -- has given me a completely new and deeper understanding of coffee as a crop," said Zhang Lei, a tourist from Hangzhou.
With abundant sunlight, a mild climate and rich soil, Pu'er offers ideal conditions for growing high-quality Arabica coffee.
In recent years, a growing number of coffee estates have emerged across the city. Combining cultivation, processing and accommodation, they represent a new way of exploring how a single crop can generate more value.
"Our project officially opened in January 2025. Since then, we've welcomed about 300,000 visitors, mostly from big cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou," said Dai Xiaoyan, general manager of Beautiful Star Village, Windy Coffee Valley.
Picking fresh cherries is just the first step. Here, visitors slow down to experience every stage of coffee making -- from drying and roasting to tasting and cupping -- and even create small souvenirs from coffee beans, making the journey as memorable as the drink itself.
"I've been drinking coffee for a long time, but I've never really understood how it's made, so this experience is really interesting," said Wang Han, a tourist from Shanghai
China is becoming one of the world's major coffee-consuming markets. That rising appetite is fueling the development of the domestic industry.
In producing regions like Pu'er, coffee harvests are shifting -- from supplying raw materials for global coffee brands to producing higher-quality, premium beans.
Now, by integrating coffee production with tourism, new opportunities are being created for local farmers.
"Before, we only grew a little coffee, some corn, and raised a few pigs, so our income was limited. Now, my wife works on the project and also runs a tie-dye business with them," said Huang Yubing, a local farmer.
Huang has also been experimenting with what he calls "Bao Bao Coffee," roasting beans in a popcorn machine for a unique flavor. He said his sources of income have become far more diversified.
From the hills of Pu'er to the first cup of the year, coffee is changing how people travel, unwind, and reconnect with the land, while quietly transforming the lives of those who grow it.
Coffee tourism booms in southwest China during New Year holiday
