Several of China’s biggest summer blockbusters have been released with audio description for blind and visually impaired cinemagoers, in a sign that the country’s film industry is gradually embracing accessibility.

Audio description — often referred to as “barrier-free movies” in China — is a separate soundtrack that plays simultaneously during a movie, describing the action as it is happening for blind and visually impaired viewers.

The service, which people typically listen to via a handset and headphones, can help blind people better visualize a scene and understand visual gags and other non-verbal cues that will enrich their enjoyment of the film.

China has an estimated 17 million people living with visual impairments, but until recently the vast majority of Chinese movies did not feature audio description.

In most cases, film studios either lacked awareness of blind people’s needs or were unwilling to invest in creating an audio description track. Barrier-free movies were only available in a few pioneering cinemas.

But that is beginning to change, with several major releases hitting cinemas with audio description this summer. The creators of “The Traveler” — a fantasy-action blockbuster adapted from a popular comic series — have made a “barrier-free version” of the movie available at 74 theaters across China, including in Beijing, Shanghai, Ningbo, Suzhou, Chongqing, and Chengdu, local media reported.

Similarly, the hit dark comedy “Successor” — which has already grossed more than 2.2 billion yuan ($300 million) — released a barrier-free version of the movie on the day it premiered in July.

Though still relatively new in China, audio description is receiving increasing attention from the government, content producers, and streaming platforms.

China’s 14th Five-Year Plan set the goal of widening the availability of “barrier-free” services for people with disabilities, including barrier-free films. Streaming platforms including Tencent Video and Youku have announced plans to launch “barrier-free channels” that will provide audio description for hundreds of popular films and TV series.

Blind and visually impaired movie fans have welcomed the changes, telling Sixth Tone that making audio description available in cinemas allows them to live a more normal life.

“It would be great if commercial theaters had barrier-free versions, with headsets next to the seats so blind people can listen to the audio description,” said Li Zhijian, who is blind. “I’m not a fan of screenings specifically for the visually impaired.”

“For me, the most significant thing about barrier-free films is that they allow blind people to mix with sighted people and participate in discussions. With barrier-free films, you can join in with others whenever you like,” Li added.

Zhang Hanyuan, 24, echoed this point. “The film itself is not the most important thing,” said Zhang, who has a visual impairment in one eye. “What matters is the opportunity to communicate with friends.”

“I have other disabilities and sometimes avoid socializing for fear of becoming a burden to others. If both of my eyes were impaired, I might rarely go out and have little social interaction. Barrier-free films can encourage people like me to interact with the rest of the world,” Zhang added.

(Header image: Visually impaired viewers watch the film “The Traveller” at a cinema in Shanghai, July 27, 2024. From The Paper)