This Day, That Year

Item from Sept 29, 1982, in China Daily: Shanghai children watch animated cartoons on a miniature plastic film projector made by the Xianfeng Film Machinery Factory in the city.

The country's film industry has changed dramatically, which has led to great changes in the moviegoing experience. New technology like 3-D screens and Imax makes audiences part of the movie. The latest way of storytelling in cinema is the virtual reality film.

China became the world's second-largest movie market in 2012. There were more than 45,000 movie screens by the end of June, making it the country with the most cinemas. The number was fewer than 1,300 in 2002.