This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up policy. Over the past 40 years, Chinese films have undergone tremendous changes in every aspect of filmmaking, from story adaptations and visual effects to publicity campaigns and marketing.

Here we present a total of 40 films from 1979 to 2018. We have selected one representative film for each year, to commemorate the 40-years journey the Chinese film industry has gone through.

At the beginning of the 1980s, the industry flourished following the opening-up and reform policy. Quite a few films have focused on depicting personal stories in the context of the times. The rise of the "fifth generation" of film directors like Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige has also brought increased popularity to Chinese cinema both at home and abroad.