Cinemas and cultural venues in Shanghai and Guangzhou moved beyond traditional screenings by embracing a "film+" model during the May Day holiday, integrating films with tourism, dining, and themed attractions to energize the holiday economy.
In Shanghai's Wu'an Film District, a film-themed bookstore became a popular destination for film enthusiasts.
"More than 80 percent of our books are film-related. During the holiday, our customer traffic rose by 50 percent compared with normal days," said Xiao Pu, manager of the bookstore.
At the 2026 Shanghai International Coffee Culture Festival held on the North Bund, an open-air film screening area drew crowds of locals and tourists, who enjoyed a relaxing blend of cinema and coffee.
During the festival, over 70 cinemas across Shanghai launched a "Coffee and Cinema Month" promotion, offering ticket holders discounts on coffee drinks and limited-edition fridge magnets.
"On the first day of the promotion, our box office revenue increased by about 20 percent year on year, and beverage sales rose by 13 percent," said Lu Ying, manager of a cinema.
In Guangzhou City, south China's Guangdong Province, the Yonghan Film Theme Park saw sustained high attendance. The park created a nostalgic movie atmosphere with classic film posters, vintage projectors, film-reel-shaped lights and retro light trails. It also introduced local specialty eateries and Cantonese snacks, set up a film-themed food market and an open-air viewing area where visitors could enjoy movies while savoring authentic local dishes.
The park is closely linked to surrounding tourism and retail businesses, forming a consumption loop that integrates movies, food, cultural exploration, and shopping, drawing foot traffic and boosting spending.
"In the past, watching a movie meant being cooped up in a closed theater, and a trip to the park was just for a walk. But here it is different. You can watch a film outdoors, and there are so many appealing shops. It feels completely free and relaxing," said Ma Huimin, a visitor.
"The shift from 'movie' to 'movie+' has mobilized a growing number of cultural industries, bringing cinema into broader spaces and creating new hubs for both consumption and culture," said Chen Tao, Associate Dean of the School of Liberal Arts at Renmin University of China.
"Movie+" model boosts holiday consumption in Shanghai, Guangzhou
Rescue operations have been halted at mudslide-hit Gyirong Port in Gyirong County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, over a potentially catastrophic barrier-lake breach that threatens to trigger secondary floods and mudslides.
At around 10:30 on Wednesday, a catastrophic mudslide on Nepal's side of the border caused heavy casualties and left a large number of people missing at the border port.
As of 15:00 on Friday, five people had been confirmed dead, and 558 remained missing, according to data from Chinese authorities.
Multiple rescue forces were dispatched to the disaster-hit area immediately after the mudslide. Armed police troops tasked with road clearance advanced to a section of the G216 National Highway, about two to three kilometers away from Gyirong Port, on Friday morning.
However, all rescue operations were suspended because a barrier lake formed after the devastating mudslide poses a high risk of breaching as water continues to flow in.
Aerial footage showed the dangerous barrier lake near the confluence of the Chhochen Khola and Purepu Tsangpo rivers, with its water volume estimated at 2.5 million cubic meters. Loose, sliding rock masses are visible on both banks.
"My current location is 2.5 kilometers from the Gyirong Port. This area was severely blocked by the mudslide on the previous day. We had originally planned to begin dredging operations today for search and rescue. However, due to flood alerts for the Donglin Zangbo River and the potential risk of a further barrier lake breach, we have suspended all on-site operations to conduct further assessments," said Xu Xingguo, a soldier from a border defense regiment.
Before suspending operations, local authorities completed comprehensive emergency evacuation and resettlement work. A total of 499 villagers and construction personnel from five disaster-threatened villages in Xigaze have been safely relocated.
In addition, all 555 tourists previously staying in Gyirong Town have been evacuated.
A full range of emergency supplies has also been delivered to Gyirong Town to support disaster relief and ensure basic living conditions for the affected people. The supplies include staple foods such as highland barley, rice and flour, cooking oil and drinking water, as well as tents, folding beds, quilts, stoves, generators and other disaster-rescue equipment and daily necessities.
To support post-disaster relief and assistance, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions has allocated 4 million yuan (around 595,260 U.S. dollars) in emergency funds to console affected residents, frontline rescuers and workers, and to support ongoing rescue operations and post-disaster recovery work.
Rescue operations halted at Xizang's Gyirong Port over barrier lake breach risk
