(Yicai Global) Dec. 6 -- An increasing number of cinemas in China are resuming operations as almost half of such venues have reopened amid the Covid-19 pandemic, just in time for the Avatar sequel.

More than 5,820 venues or some 47 percent of all movie theaters are open, The Paper reported today, citing data providers Maoyan and Cbdio. On Nov. 29, the share had been 36 percent, the lowest this year. On Dec. 4, the nation logged CNY28.3 million (USD4.1 million) in box office receipts.

Certain regions have eased their Covid-19 restriction policies over the past week. Zhejiang province is leading the nation as 82 percent of the eastern province's movie theaters are open. That is true for over 70 percent of cinemas in Guangdong, Hainan, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, and Guizhou provinces, as well as Shanghai.

This month, the expected main blockbuster is the upcoming Avatar: The Way of Water. On ticketing platform Maoyan, some 1.2 million people have said they want to watch the film that will hit the screens in 11 days. The number is more than double that of The Wandering Earth 2, expected to be released in January.

Editor: Emmi Laine, Xiao Yi