Mid-Autumn movie releases gain audience approval as China's holiday box office spikes

Cinemas across China have seen a boost in ticket sales during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, fueled by a packed slate of film releases that are drawing praise as audiences note their elevated production quality.

The country's total box office has surpassed 200 million yuan (about 30 million U.S. dollars) during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, which runs from Friday to Sunday. Combined with the upcoming National Day break, the moviegoing boom is just the beginning of a combined double holiday that will see 20 Chinese and Foreign films hitting theaters.

The lineup spans a wide range of genres, from suspense and comedy to family-friendly animation. Among the most acclaimed by moviegoers are the comedy-drama and modern anti-war tale Once Upon a Time in the Middle East and the mythical adventure film All Wishes Come True.

"Work keeps me busy during the week, so I invited a friend to relax and watch a movie. There are so many films out this year, and the quality seems really good," said moviegoer Cheng Nuo.

In a tale of a retiring police officer, The Old Dog pits good against evil in another Mid-Autumn release. Meanwhile, the historical epic Heroes of Dunhuang tells the story of soldiers and civilians in Shazhou returning to Tang rule. The diverse lineup caters to different audiences and viewing preferences.

"I just finished watching Heroes of Dunhuang. The production quality is excellent. The costumes and props really capture the atmosphere of the late Tang Dynasty," said audience member Ms. Jin.

Mid-Autumn movie releases gain audience approval as China's holiday box office spikes

China's transit systems are handling a nationwide return travel rush on the last day of the three-day Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, which runs from Friday to Sunday.

China's railway system is expected to handle 16.86 million passenger trips on Sunday. Many railway stations have opened all ticket-check and security-check channels, with each verification and security-check area featuring a "caring/urgent passenger" channel that provides priority entry for passengers whose trains depart within 15 minutes.

During the holiday, many travelers have also taken sightseeing trips by car, resulting in traffic flows briefly concentrating in popular tourism cities, scenic spots, and surrounding areas. Return traffic to large and medium-sized cities is expected to peak from around 16:00.

The civil aviation sector is expected to handle 2.1 million passengers on Sunday, while waterways across the country are projected to carry over 813,000 passenger trips.

Transportation authorities across the country increased capacity deployment and coordinated effective connections between road passenger transport, urban public transport, and rail and civil aviation.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, falls on Friday this year. Across China, people celebrate the day by gathering for moon-gazing, eating mooncakes, and lighting colorful lanterns.

China sees return travel rush as Mid-Autumn festival holiday comes to end