Across China: Public welfare cinema enriches leisure time of rural residents

During the 2016 Spring Festival holiday, Li showed the historical film The Hundred Regiments Offensive to the residents. "The theatre was so crowded that some of the residents who arrived late couldn't get in," said Li, adding that the theatre had to give an additional screening in the afternoon.

Today, film shows at the theatre usually take place during public holidays or winter and summer holidays. After each screening, projectionists will collect the audiences' feedback and preferences, so as to decide what to show next time.

"Local residents favor films about rural life, comedies, war films, and dramas," said Li.

The cinema also occasionally shows films that publicize general knowledge. Once, a film about the proper use of natural gas was well-received by residents and was required to be screened again.

"Decades of experience showed that watching films is still a widely popular entertainment in rural areas," said Yan Dongsheng, a researcher at the Shandong provincial department of publicity.

"It also brings people closer together, and enables them to enhance relationships by sharing stories and ideas," Yan added.