Culture industry booming in China

Growing affluence means many more people having money to spend on art exhibitions, as well as watching films, and all sorts of drama performances.

Ms. Shi is a film fan. But she had not been to a proper film theatre for quite a few years. Because there was not a single film theatre in the neighborhood until this new Wanda Village Film Theater was built. Now she is a frequent costumer here.

Ms. Shi Lin said "The theatre is located very near our community so we do not need to travel down town to see a film."

With fast expansion of theatres, Beijing's film box office receipts increase by more than 25 percent every year. Up to February, there were 65 film theatres with 250 screens, and their annual revenues reached 360 million yuan in 2007, a historical record. And the total revenue of culture industry also took a record 10 percent of Beijing's 2007 GDP, as probably a new engine for its economic growth.

Jiang Gongmin, Head of Beijing Culture Bureau said "We encourage the development of the culture industry and support them with favorable policies. "

Beijing's newly finished National Grand Theatre has boosted the market for show business. The number of dance, music and drama shows surged from several thousand in one year in the 1990's to 17,000 in 2007 in the city, making the capital China's center of show business.