China's box office sales surge in H1

China's box office sales totaled 13.7 billion yuan (about $2.21 billion) in the first half of 2014, up 24.7 percent year on year, official statistics showed on Thursday.

Thirty-three titles achieved ticket sales of over 100 million yuan in the recording period, including 15 domestic productions, according to data published on Wednesday by the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT).

Unlike in 2013, domestic productions accounted for less than half of the market share in the first six months this year, according to the SAPPRFT.

"The Monkey King," an action-packed period fantasy based on an ancient Chinese legend, led the domestic titles with 1.04 billion yuan, followed some way behind by "Dad, Where Are We Going?," a reality TV show spin-off that took in 696 million yuan.

China is the second-largest film market after the United States, with a total box office near 22 billion yuan in 2013.

Analysts have estimated that China's cinemas will take 28 billion yuan in ticket sales this year.