August First Film Studio

　　 The August First Film Studio of the Chinese People's Liberation Army is China’s only military film studio, located in Liulitun Beili, Lugouqiao Subdistrict, Fengtai District, Beijing, covering an area of 392.1 mu. In March 1951, it began preparations under the name of the PLA Military Education Film Studio. It was officially established on August 1, 1952, as the PLA Film Studio, and renamed August First Film Studio in 1956. The first film produced by the studio in 1952 was the military educational film River Crossing Attack, the first documentary completed that year was Jingjiang River Diversion, and the first Chinese language teaching film translated in 1952 was Nervous System and Conditioned Reflex. The first feature film, Breaking Through Before Dawn, was produced in 1955, the first stereoscopic documentary in China, A Tour of the Li River, was completed in 1960, the first TV drama, Examination Hall, was produced starting in 1982, and the studio began making animated films in 1988.

　　 Walking into the August First Film Studio History Museum, you’ll find a long red staircase in the center of the exhibition hall, featuring 53 steps symbolizing the 53 years from the studio’s founding to the museum’s opening. The three-story museum consists of three exhibition halls. The top floor is the first exhibition hall, displaying historical photos of visits and tours by leaders from all sectors of the Party, government, and military, as well as photos of the studio’s legendary figures and trophies over the years. The second exhibition hall is on the middle floor, showcasing various types of films made by the studio throughout its history, including feature films, military educational films, news documentaries, defense research films, animated films, stereoscopic movies, special topic films, and TV movies, along with photos of successive studio leaders and the actor troupe. The third exhibition hall is on the ground floor, featuring numerous film props, scene setups, and updates on the latest movie news. On both sides of the first exhibition hall are displayed trophies won by the studio over its more than 50 years of history.

　　 (Source: Propaganda Department of Fengtai District Committee)