Chinese after-party for Oscar champion

"I hope this is a universal story that connects nations," says Danny Boyle, director of Slumdog Millionaire when he was in Beijing on Tuesday to promote the film.

Having swept the 81st Academy Awards with eight wins including that of the Best Picture and Best Director, the film hits Chinese mainland theaters today.

Boyle is optimistic about the film's reception in China, a country often compared with India in terms of its locations, population and speedy economic development.