A meeting of film industry leaders from across China was held Saturday in Beijing to review the achievements of the past year and outline key priorities for 2025.
Shen Haixiong, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and president of China Media Group, attended the meeting.
The meeting highlighted that the total box office revenue of Chinese films surpassed 42.5 billion yuan (around 5.81 billion U.S. dollars), with total viewership exceeding over 1 billion, in 2024. Among them, the box office of domestic films was 33.43 billion yuan (around 4.57 billion U.S. dollars), accounting for 78.68 percent of the total.
It emphasized the need for deeper reforms to create a healthy and vibrant ecosystem for movie production.
To promote the high-quality development of the film industry, the meeting called for the creation of outstanding works that resonate with audiences.
It also urged efforts to innovate the promotion of Chinese films internationally, enhance global exchanges and cooperation, and boost the international competitiveness and influence of Chinese cinema.
Meeting of film industry leaders outlines priorities for movie sector in 2025
Weihai, a charming coastal city in east China's Shandong Province, has seen a surge of international tourists since China expanded its visa-free policies to include Japan and South Korea at the end of last year.
Just over one hour's flight away from South Korea, Weihai has become a hotspot for tourists from South Korea and Japan, making "visiting China after work on Friday" a popular trend.
"I came from Anyang in South Korea. Weihai is the closest city to South Korea. I have been to Weihai several times in summer before, and I really want to experience Weihai in winter," said Lee Jae-jin, a Korean tourist.
To handle this influx of international tourists, the local airport has collaborated with Customs and Immigration authorities to monitor incoming travelers and ensure smooth customs procedures.
Local tourism authorities have also introduced measures to facilitate payments for travelers from overseas and improve the overall tourist experience.
To date, the city has upgraded 557 POS machines and installed 783 ATM terminals across 14 banks.
Weihai has also added trilingual signage in Chinese, English, and Korean and bilingual guides at 47 top tourist spots.
Visa-free policies draw weekend tourists from nearby countries to China
