China's film industry had been boosting cultural tourism and global engagement this Spring Festival with the "China Travel with Chinese Films" initiative.
The China Film Administration and China Media Group jointly launched the special promotional campaign for the 2026 Spring Festival season. Centered on Spring Festival releases, the initiative promotes travel routes linked to filming locations and story settings, alongside film-themed consumption incentives.
Promotional videos for Spring Festival films were displayed on over 600 public screens across 28 countries, attracting more international audiences to experience China's vibrant Spring Festival culture following camera lens.
On the first day of the Chinese New Year, Chinese films including Scare Out, Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert, and Panda Plan: The Magical Tribe premiered in a dozen major film markets, including North America, Australia, New Zealand, Britain, Singapore, and Malaysia.
"This year's Spring Festival lineup includes many types of domestic films -- action, martial arts, and various other genres. The scenes in these movies also inspire us to visit the beautiful landscapes of our motherland in person. Through these films, we’ve developed a strong interest in China’s natural scenery and gained a deeper appreciation for its traditional culture," said Liu Zhaojue, a movie goer in Macao.
"During this year's Spring Festival season, Sil-Metropole Organization distributed three outstanding mainland films in Hong Kong and Macao, which drew a considerable number of local viewers. We can see that the cultural strength of Chinese films going global is growing increasingly evident. On the other hand, more and more overseas audiences are engaging in activities like "China Travel With Chinese Films" and "Taste China With Chinese Films". The cinema-driven economy has become the most remarkable economic phenomenon during the Spring Festival. It has also emerged as the most significant driver of consumption demand in the holiday economy," said Ding Kai, general manager of Hong Kong's Sil-Metropole Organization.
Three other films, namely, Pegasus 3, Per Aspera Ad Astra and Boonie Bears: The Hidden Protector were also released in global markets in late February.
Chinese movies launched during Spring Festival season draw global audiences
Chinese movies launched during Spring Festival season draw global audiences
Shanghai is improving its business environment starting from the neighborhood level to ensure the precision of the city management.
This footpath along the Suzhou Creek is a popular spot for leisure and exercise in the city.
Many visitors of the Fotografiska Museum like to have a cup of coffee and enjoy the outdoor vibe. But in fact, putting chairs outdoors is not a simple matter for the store itself.
When this gallery opened in 2023, it wanted to set up an outdoor seating area.
"We are located by the road and along the creek, so there are many joggers, sports enthusiasts, and tourists passing by. We need to consider how to balance our operations with the flow of people through the area,” said Crystal Cao, guest experience manager of the gallery.
The problem was quickly solved with the help of a "business environment specialist" in the neighborhood.
In Shanghai's North Station neighborhood, 12 specialists each oversee 30 to 40 local companies, ensuring that their requests are addressed promptly.
"My job is to communicate with enterprises and know their needs. If they have requests, we help solve them," said Sun Danyan, a business environment specialist of Shanghai North Station Neighborhood.
The gallery shared its plans with the specialist, who then reported them to the neighborhood office. The office coordinates with district-level departments, such as landscaping and city appearance bureaus, to design the outdoor area.
Without such specialists, companies, especially smaller ones, would have to navigate multiple departments on their own, which can be challenging.
"Small companies often have limited access to resources and information. They need our neighborhood office to provide support and help them access the resources they require," said Sang Zhenxiao, office director of Shanghai North Station Neighborhood.
Private enterprises account for more than 90 percent of Shanghai's businesses and are a key pillar of the city's economy.
Xu Jiao, deputy director of the Development and Reform Commission in Shanghai's Jing'an District, said the business environment is designed to support not only large or foreign firms, but also small local companies.
"The neighborhood is the closest to the companies and the last kilometer in the business environment. So, we use the ‘neighborhood serving as whistle blower to urge departments to report for duty’ to make our job more efficient. Any problems companies meet can be reported to the higher level via this mechanism," he said.
On the first workday of 2026, Shanghai launched its ninth version of the action plan to accelerate the development of a world-class business environment. The plan prioritizes government service efficiency as its first chapter.
Building a world-class business environment is also highlighted in the recommendation for China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), signaling a clear commitment to supporting enterprises, especially small and private companies.
Shanghai improves business environment starting from neighborhood level
