BEIJING - China ranks third in the world for its prolific output of film and television productions, a senior media official said.

Wang Taihua, director of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), said in a recent interview that more than 500 films were produced in China in 2010, receiving a world ranking of third place for the size of its output, which is estimated to have earned a record 10 billion yuan ($1.47 billion) in box office takings.

Many of the films have been well received by the critics as well as popular with audiences, Wang said, citing Feng Xiaogang's Aftershock as an example.