Moviegoers wait for the start of a film at Heping Cinema in Wuxi on July 20 after a half-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [Photo/wxrb.com]
Cinemas in Wuxi, Jiangsu province reopened on July 20 after the China Film Administration lifted restrictions that were introduced in late January to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Wuxi Big World Cineplex at Zhongshan Road, Boda-Modern and Jiong Plazas, and Heping Cinema, started selling tickets at 14:15 pm on July 19, the first four cinemas to do so.
Zhu Chao from Wuxi Big World Cineplex said they sold their first ticket online at 14:23 pm for the first showing at 10:00 am the next day.
A First Farewell, an award-winning movie revolving around two children in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, was among the few popular newcomers to hit theaters, while many others were re-screened box office hits, including Chinese blockbuster Wolf Warrior II, Disney-Pixar animation Coco and 2019 crime film Sheep Without a Shepherd.
Workers from Wuxi Health Bureau conduct a health check in cinemas on July 20. [Photo/wxrb.com]
Li Hong and Hou Yue, a couple who are both moviegoers, were among the first people to watch a movie at the theater. They said that they have missed the cinema a lot and collect memorable ticket stubs.
According to box-office tracker Maoyan, the Zhongshan Road branch of Wuxi Big World Cineplex ranked fourth in the country on the first day of recovery.
More cinemas in the city will reopen in waves, according to officials. Viewers are required to wear masks for the duration of the screening, and cinemas will not sell snacks or drinks.
