Science - fiction blockbuster Avatar took in more than 33 million yuan on its first day at the box office in China this week, setting a new record.

James Cameron's ground-breaking 3-D epic, which has already grossed one billion U.S. dollars worldwide, opened on Monday in China to enthusiastic crowds of filmgoers. The state media quotes a spokesman for distributor China Film Group Corporation as saying Avatar is likely to surpass disaster flick 2012 as the top-earning film in China.

China currently allows 20 foreign films to be shown in local movie theatres every year on a revenue - sharing basis.

Science - fiction blockbuster Avatar took in more than 33 million yuan  on its first day at the box office in China this week, setting a new  record.