Cinemas in central and southern Chinese cities are reopening after being closed for weeks to help slow the spread of coronavirus.

Cinemas across the city of Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province have started to resume operations since Friday, with effective epidemic prevention measures in place.

The cinemas need to conduct daily disinfection work, and keep occupancy below 50 percent of normal capacity, according to cinema staff.

Viewers are required to present negative results of nucleic acid test taken within 48 hours, scan the venue code, and have their temperatures taken at the cinema entrance. Masks have to be worn at all times.

"After receiving the government's notice on work resumption, our cinema organized all staff to conduct a cleaning and disinfection work immediately. We set up an epidemic prevention post at the entrance, reminding each viewer to scan QR code, have their temperatures taken and wear masks. We also need to conduct another disinfection work in all screening rooms after each screening," said Li Bo, market manager of a cinema in the city.

Despite being subject to a set of strict rules, the reopening is a much-anticipated treat for movie fans.

"Finally, I can walk out of home to watch movie. I haven't seen a movie for quite a long time," said a movie-goer in Zhengzhou.

Meanwhile, more than 134 cinemas have reopened in Guangzhou, the provincial capital of south China's Guangdong Province, allowing movie lovers to catch the latest blockbusters while still observing strict epidemic prevention rules, which are almost the same as those in Zhengzhou.

The cinemas here are permitted to accommodate 75 percent of the seating capacity and the disinfection work is a must after each session.

"We must conduct the disinfection work twice in the morning, twice in the afternoon, and twice in the evening," said Luo Ming, a cinema manager.