China's box office has surpassed 30 billion yuan (4.47 billion U.S. dollars) so far in 2026, including presales, with over 760 million movie admissions and 112 million screenings recorded as of Saturday.
For the National Day holiday film season, the box office has surpassed 440 million yuan by 13:00 on Saturday, the third day of the seven-day break, according to data from an online ticketing platform.
Several new releases are drawing attention, with the crime thriller "Traces of Justice" leading the box office in the holiday film season.
Directed and co-written by Chen Sicheng, "Traces of Justice" is based on the life and work of Cui Daozhi, a renowned trace-evidence expert. Rather than focusing on action-driven police work, the film centers on forensic science and evidence analysis.
Domestic films have remained the dominant force in the market from the start of this year through the holiday.
The top five highest-grossing films of 2026 so far are all Chinese productions: racing-comedy "Pegasus 3," Stephen Chow's comedy movie "Kung Fu Soccer," anti-war film "Once Upon a Time in the Middle East," animated fantasy-comedy "All Wishes Come True," and the word-of-mouth hit "Dear You."
"I think the overall quality of domestic films this year is pretty good. A lot of them have solid stories. Domestic films today understand ordinary people like us better and better," said Tian Peishan, a moviegoer.
Local authorities across the country have also rolled out a range of subsidy programs to offer discounted movie tickets and draw more people to cinemas.
Meanwhile, cinema infrastructure has been upgraded.
By the end of September this year, China had added a net total of 438 cinemas and 2,632 screens, bringing the total number of screens to nearly 96,000, the highest number in the world.
China's box office exceeds 30 bln yuan so far in 2026
China's box office exceeds 30 bln yuan so far in 2026
Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping and special envoy of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the advancement of girls' and women's education, called for the international community to vigorously develop digital and intelligent education for women, to ensure that they can use and benefit from digital and intelligent technologies.
Peng made the remarks via video link at the award ceremony of the 2026 UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education, held on Friday local time in Paris, France.
Noting that girls' and women's education remains an arduous task, she also urged the international community to work together to enhance women's vocational education and training and build them a ladder to a life of brilliance.
Peng extended warm congratulations to this year's laureates who are from Morocco and Peru. Noting that girls' and women's education is a key measure of the progress of human civilization, she said in recent years, thanks to UNESCO's strong advocacy and the international community's concerted efforts, encouraging progress in this worthy cause has been achieved.
Stressing that China has always set great store by girls' and women's education, Peng said China is committed to helping women in China to receive better education and live a life of purpose.
"At the same time, we are also actively and extensively carrying out practical cooperation with UNESCO and relevant parties, and have implemented a number of programs, benefiting women across the globe," Peng added.
She said that China's efforts over recent years in using AI to empower quality education have not only boosted gender equality in education and women's all-round development, but also provided useful experience for fellow Global South countries.
In advancing girls' and women's education, hope is sown, dreams are nurtured, and happiness will be reaped in abundance, she said.
"As the UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education enters a new decade, I stand ready to work with all of you to promote greater progress in girls' and women's education, and contribute to a brighter future in which more women can thrive and shine," Peng added.
Since China established the prize in cooperation with UNESCO in 2015, the award has continued to exert a positive impact and received extensive attention and high recognition from the international community.
Peng Liyuan calls for int'l community to advance women's education for access to digital, intelligent technologies
