"I felt the earth trembling before the volcano erupted," said Li Yanlin after watching the disaster film Pompeii in a 4D cinema.

Bucking around on a vibrating seat, Li said he got a sense of the terror the characters were feeling and actually became part of the film.

Long jaded by 3D blockbusters, 20-year-old Li quite enjoys the cutting-edge 4D technology, which has been adopted by several cinemas in Shanghai and is warmly welcomed by a mainly younger audience.

A 4D film goes beyond 3D by using a cinema equipped with high-tech devices like strobes that simulate lightning bolts and movable seats that can rock, blow wind, spray water and mist, poke your back, or even tickle with slithering nylon cords to give the sensation of creepy-crawlies wriggling around your feet.

Compared with a purely visual 3D production, 4D kicks the whole experience up to another level, with an all-round sensation of seeing, listening, smelling and touching. Viewers can get more connected with the story or even feel they are right there experiencing all the adventures the characters are going through.

"When I watched the 4D Titanic, I saw bolts of lightning, heard gusts of wind whistling past me, and felt an icy cold when passengers were struggling for help in the ocean," said Zhou Wenting, a filmgoer who shared her viewing experiences online. "4D adds to the pleasure by giving a deeper and more sensuous experience. The film was enriched by the sensations. It was a real thrill."

Posters for a series of 4D films Photo: Courtesy of the cinemas

Posters for a series of 4D films Photo: Courtesy of the cinemas

Posters for a series of 4D films Photo: Courtesy of the cinemas

Posters for a series of 4D films Photo: Courtesy of the cinemas

Inside China Maritime Museum's 4D cinema Photo: Courtesy of the cinemas

4D films made a big stir when they were shown at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, drawing large crowds of viewers who poured into the pavilions.

Zhong Jianhua, a public relations officer at Shanghai Film Co Ltd, said there are currently 12 commercial 4D cinemas screening feature-length films in Shanghai, with more planned. In addition, some museums and amusement parks have short 4D films running 15 to 20 minutes.

Theoretically, any 3D film can be converted into 4D, although the process is best suited to action films.

Though lots of gasping and screaming is elicited by a 4D film, not everyone enjoys the sensations. "I felt nervous and it made my hair into a total mess. I was on the alert for water splashing me and for the tickler under the seat throughout the film. Within the first 5 minutes, I got jabbed in the back twice. It was quite annoying," said Wendy Zhou, a 40-year-old viewer.

From the early black-and-white silent films to modern leading-edge 4D productions, the film industry has witnessed huge technological progress. However, technology alone does not guarantee that a film will be good. "Too many special effects can be exhausting and distracting. After all, the film itself is the most important aspect," Zhong said.

Bringing a towel to mop water from your face may be a good idea if you visit any of the recommended venues below, while eating or drinking during the screening could have messy consequences. Pregnant women and people with high blood pressure or heart diseases are advised not to watch 4D films.

Where to watch

Shanghai Science & Technology Museum

Shanghai Science & Technology Museum has a 4D cinema for short films with a seating capacity of 56. The cinema incorporates motion-based seating synchronized with about 10 different special effects including snow, which is seldom seen in other 4D cinemas.

One film, Golden Monkey, is billed as China's first domestic 4D science documentary. The film, about endangered golden monkeys in Hubei Province, lasts 15 minutes. It took a 16-member production team a month to shoot. Other popular films include Saber Toothed Dynasty and Dragon Warrior.

Since opening, the cinema has been popular with children and young people. There are four 4D screenings each day. Tickets cost 30 yuan ($4.88) per person. The museum also has two IMAX cinemas.

Address: 2000 Century Avenue 世纪大道2000号

Call 6862-2000 for details

Yonghua Cinema City

Opened in August, 2011, Yonghua Cinema City in Xuhui district was Shanghai's first commercial cinema to screen feature-length 4D films. The 99-seat cinema is scheduled for expansion to a capacity of about 150 in the next few months. A 4D film costs 150 yuan per person. Those who buy tickets before 12 noon or after 10 pm, or any time on a Tuesday, can enjoy half-price tickets.

Address: 6/F, 1 Hongqiao Road 虹桥路1号6楼

Call 6407-6622 for details

China Maritime Museum

Covering an area of 514 square meters with a seating capacity of 180, the China Maritime Museum has chairs featuring seven special effects, including vibration and fog spray.

By simulating scenes in the film, the LED lights on the side walls serve as an extension of the screen to maximize the feeling of immersion.

Each film lasts about 15 minutes and costs 30 yuan each person.

Address: 197 Shengang Avenue 申港大道197号

Call 3828-7777 for detials