Open-air screenings turn Beijing's historic, industrial sites into summer cinemas

Outdoor film screenings are drawing large crowds to some of Beijing’s most significant historic and industrial landmarks this summer, bringing audiences to centuries-old architecture and a repurposed industrial park.

The New Zealand film "1978" had its global premiere Saturday night at the foot of a cooling tower beside Big Air Shougang during the 10th China-New Zealand Film Carnival, running Friday through Monday.

The screening took place in Shougang Park, a former steel mill transformed into a cultural and sports hub that served as a venue for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. The site's industrial relics, including massive blast furnaces and cooling towers, now provide a backdrop for events blending heritage with modern entertainment.

Meanwhile, crowds gather every weekend for nighttime screenings at the Bell and Drum Towers, which sit at the northern end of Beijing's Central Axis. The 13th-century structures served as the official timekeepers for the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties and are part of the site added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2024.

"I think combining historical architecture with film is a brilliant idea. It blends cultural elements with artistic inspiration, giving a sense of blending history and modernity," said Zhao Qian, an audience member at a screening.

The weekend screenings at the Bell and Drum Towers, ongoing for several months now, will continue through the National Day holiday in October with diverse offerings, including animated family films and Chinese-style films.

"The screenings encourage visitors to appreciate the beauty of the ancient architecture, particularly the Bell and Drum Towers, breathing new life into old buildings through film and other art forms," said Yuan Jian, deputy general manager of the Creative Integration Department of the Fanghu Zhaowen (Beijing) Culture Technology Company.

Open-air screenings turn Beijing's historic, industrial sites into summer cinemas

The first clutch of Yangtze alligator eggs this year was discovered recently in the Anhui Chinese alligator national nature reserve in eastern China.

In the Zhongqiao area of the reserve in Jingxian County, Anhui Province, staff members found a nest of 32 fertilized eggs in good developmental status on June 20, marking the start of the wild breeding cycle for Yangtze alligators throughout the reserve.

To minimize human intervention, the staff have installed high-precision temperature and humidity meters inside the nest to monitor its micro-environment around the clock.

Infrared cameras have also been set up at concealed locations around the nest to record the behavior of the female alligator protecting the nest all day long, promptly preventing the invasion of natural enemies and achieving full-process intelligent monitoring.

The Yangtze alligator, which has lived on Earth for over 200 million years, is a protected species of first-class importance endemic to China. The species, also known as the Chinese alligator, lives along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the country's longest waterway.

First clutch of Yangtze alligator eggs discovered in Anhui reserve this year