Shanghai Tech WriterTechnical Writing, Technology, Web2.0, Google, Shanghai, China

Avatar started showing in Shanghai this week in IMAX, 3D, and regular screens. Peace Cinema at Raffles City, where Google Shanghai office is located, is the only IMAX theater in Shanghai, a city of 22 million people.

Since the online ticketing system does not work, it is nearly impossible to get tickets! Tickets are sold only two days in advance, so the line (surprisingly, people do line up) outside of Raffles City is ridiculously long as people start lining up the night before — even with temperature at below freezing! When I get to work in the morning around 8am, the line already circles around Raffles City several times! When I get off work in the evening, the line is gone but so are ALL the tickets.

What’s surprising is that IMAX tickets average about 120-150RMB each (about $18-22USD). The average monthly salary (in Shanghai) is only about 2000RMB ($300USD). That’s a sizable chunk of your average income and yet, people are still willing to pay the price! What’s even more ridiculous is that because the supply does not meet demand, Peace Cinema will double the price for IMAX tickets starting next week to 180RMB ($26USD)!! That’s highway robbery! But that’s still cheaper than the 600RMB ($88USD) tickets sold on Taobao (Chinese version of eBay).

I got some movie vouchers from work that I can use to exchange for IMAX tickets. I’ve already tried my luck at Peace Cinema, the Miramar IMAX theater in Taipei, and Super Brand Mall in Lujiazui (regular 3D version) to no avail. I guess it will be a while before I can watch Avatar in IMAX without waiting for hours in line.