He is betting on China’s focus on things that are new and technologically sophisticated, a contrast to North America, where moviegoers have received 3-D tentatively. Box-office revenue from 3-D films in North America dropped 18 percent from 2010 to 2011, though the 2010 figures included “Avatar,” the first 3-D film to reach $1 billion worldwide.

China’s government is encouraging more expensive entertainment options as it strives to shift its economy toward consumerism from manufacturing. In February, China further opened its market to foreign films, letting studios release an additional 14 films (for a total of 34) if they are 3-D or in a large format like Imax.

One obstacle to 3-D films in China is the omnipresent subtitles that make all movies accessible to viewers who speak any of hundreds of regional dialects.

“I feel a little bit tired because my eyes are not quite comfortable,” said Mr. Zheng after a 55 renminbi ($9) matinee last Thursday. “But when I take off the glasses, I can’t see the subtitles clearly.”

With subtitles in the foreground, tricking the eyes into seeing 3-D depth beyond them without causing headaches is a challenge. One solution is to keep expensive projector bulbs turned up high to help eyes adjust. But each bulb costs roughly 5,000 renminbi ($790) and theater owners tend to try to stretch their typical two-week life span. Another solution is to make live 3-D films, shot with two cameras at once, rather than rely on conversions — films shot in regular format, then altered in postproduction. Live 3-D can be easier on the eyes.

“We’re absolutely trying to do live 3-D, but think that for now the best way forward is to do a combination of live and conversion,” said Shen Hongxiang, chief operating officer of Beijing-based Soul Power 3-D, which converted “Painted Skin II” from 2-D. “It’s cheaper and will still produce high quality 3-D.” “Painted Skin II” is the highest-grossing Chinese-language film of all time, with ticket sales of more than $114 million as of Aug. 5.

Overseeing 170 young Chinese software engineers split between Beijing and Wuxi, near Shanghai, five-year-old Soul Power has made a business of converting Hollywood fare like the Weinstein Company’s “Piranha 3-D.”