Hugh Jackman's presence at The Wolverine promotion in Beijing attracts about 1,500 enthusiastic fans. The outdoor red carpet like this is the first for a Hollywood star in China. Jiang Dong / China Daily

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A few days after Hiddleston's tour, Hugh Jackman walked the red carpet outside a Beijing theater, here to promote The Wolverine, released on Oct 17.

About 1,500 fans lined the sides of the 95-meter carpet and Jackman spent 40 minutes signing and greeting before he arrived at the end, where another surprise awaited him.

His fans had brought him a cake to celebrate his birthday a few days before, because they knew he was on the road and might have spent his birthday on a plane.

"More and more A-listers will come to China to promote their films, as they become aware of the market's importance," says Jo Yan, senior vice-president of studio distribution for Greater China at The Walt Disney Company (Shanghai) Limited.

China's annual box office takings reached 17 billion yuan ($2.7 billion) in 2012, increasing more than 30 percent over the last year. It is the largest overseas market for many Hollywood films, such as Avatar and Kung Fu Panda 2. Some films, such as Pacific Rim, grossed more in China than in North America.

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