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September 17, 2018

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The famous movie locations providing must-visit destinations for Chinese tourists

The television and film industries are providing a much-needed shot in the arm to the Chinese tourist industry.

More and more Chinese tourists are choosing to spend their vacations and spare time visiting the sets and exotic locations made famous by a movie or TV series. And, as a consequence, providing a boost to the local economy.

Hengdian Town in Zhejiang Province, the largest film-shooting base in Asia, has become an attractive destination because of the extremely popular Chinese TV series “Story of Yanxi Palace,” a 70-episode story of imperial concubines during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

The number of visitors to Dongyang, where Hengdian is located, has surged to nearly 400 percent in August from a year earlier, whereas ticket sales to Hengdian World Studios have rising nearly 120 percent during the same period, according to China’s biggest online travel operator Ctrip. Many tourists even visit the TV locations dressed in ancient costumes hoping to meet the screen’s stars.

But it’s not only China who has benefited from TV exposure. Since the “Game of Thrones” hit our screens, Morocco, Croatia, Iceland, Spain, Ireland and Malta have all seen a significant influx of Chinese tourists. Independent travelers to Morocco, Croatia and Iceland have risen from 290 percent to 450 percent, according to Ctrip.

Some Chinese tourists even took the same ship taken by Daenerys Targaryen in the TV series from Dubrovnik, Croatia, in a two-hour cruise tour and enjoy the same cocktail as shown in the series at the same time.

Another example is Koh Chang or Chang Island in Thailand.

The island wasn’t popular, compared to other Thai beach resorts, until the screening of the “Chinese Restaurant,” a reality show about celebrities operating an overseas restaurant, late last year, Ctrip said.

“The touching or dramatic plots can easily trigger the emotional resonance of audiences, and touring in the shooting places will make them feel like they are in the film pictures,” said Peng Liang with Ctrip.

The effect of celebrities is another factor, luring young travelers to walk the same roads of their idols and take the same photos like them, said Peng.

A survey conducted by the China Tourism Academy and travel review website Mafengwo found that more than 24 percent of travelers said they would want to visit a destination they never knew before just because they watched a TV drama.

The popularity of domestic shooting locations jumps around 50 percent after the airing of a show — and 265 percent for overseas destinations — based on booking data and other research, according to Mafengwo.

Animation fans are also lured to destinations appearing in films and TV series.

Avid manga fans flock to Kamakura in Japan just to take a photo of Kamakura Kokomae Station, a famous scene in the animation “Slam Dunk,” a story about a high school basketball team. Another popular destination is Shizuoka, the hometown of Momoko Sakura, a Japanese manga artist and the main character depicted in her own manga “Chibi Maruko-chan Emi Sakura.”

Hengdian World Studios

Hengdian Town, the largest film-shooting base in Asia, is known as “Oriental Hollywood.”

The extraordinary scenery has made the area one of the hottest tourist sites in Zhejiang Province.

Founded in 1996, Hengdian World Studios are home to more than 10 film sets, including Guangzhou Street and Hongkong Street, the Ming and Qing Palatial Garden, Qin Palace and Dream Valley.

It has attracted numerous film crews from both home and abroad, famous directors and stars, and a large number of films and TV series were born here.

Kamakura

Kamakura, a coastal city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, is home to numerous temples, shrines and other historical monuments.

Yet the small city is a famous tourist destination among Chinese tourists because of a sports-themed manga series “Slam Dunk.”

The movie follows the fortunes of Shohoku High School basketball team in the Shonan area. It has sold more than 121 million copies in Japan alone, making it one of the best-selling manga series in history.

Kamakura has become a must-go place for Chinese basketball fans.

Less than an hour south of Tokyo, the city can be reached via Enoshima Dentetsu, an old private railway that connects Kamakura Station in Kamakura with Fujisawa Station in Fujisawa, Kanagawa.

It is also the most popular way of transportation to the place because the 10-kilometer rail line features a number of scenes in the series.

A popular place for shutterbugs is the seaside crossing close to Kamakura Kokomae Station, where Hanamichi Sakuragi, the main character in the series, waves to Haruko Akagi, the girl of his dreams.

Kamakura also boasts a large number of other attractions such as Great Buddha, Hokokuji Temple, Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine and Myohonji Temple.

Koh Chang

Compared to Phuket, Koh Samui or Krabi, the fame of the island on the Gulf of Thailand’s eastern seaboard was largely unexplored among Chinese tourists despite Koh Chang being Thailand’s second largest island. However, that all changed with the airing of the reality show “Chinese Restaurant.”

Travel agencies in China launched more than 100 itineraries to the island following the surging demand after the show first aired in 2017.

The hilly nature of the island provides a number of waterfalls. It also features some breathtaking scenes of beauty, with an emerald-colored ocean, white sandy beaches and a lush tropical jungle.

It is also home to a wide range of wildlife, including birds, snakes, deer and elephants. The island is also a great option for snorkeling, diving and jungle hiking.

Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik, an intact walled city on the Adriatic Sea coast, south of Croatia, has surged in popularity in recent years because of the American fantasy TV drama series “Game of Thrones.”

It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean and was included in UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1979.

The Old Town has stood in for “King’s Landing,” “Qarth” and other fictional places since the series’ second season in 2012.

There are dozens of “Game of Thrones” walking tours available here. Much of the filming took place on the city walls. There was a notable scene from “Qarth” filmed at the base of the Minceta Tower, as well as sets near Fort Lovrijenac, the little beach and pier in the cove below it.

A boat ride takes people to Lokrum Island where lots of scenes were filmed, while a day trip to Trsteno Arboretum will also look familiar as a number of scenes were filmed there.

Dubrovnik is steeped in stunning architecture and sculptural detail, and boasts spectacular churches, monasteries, museums and fountains.

Mount Changbai

The snow-capped Mount Changbai in northeastern China’s Jilin Province has a prominent position in the popular online novel “The Graver Robbers’ Chronicles.” The story follows a group of explorers who embark on a journey to uncover the secrets of immortality in ancient tombs.

Changbai gets its name, “forever white,” because of the permanently snow-covered peaks. The mountain contains a wealth of vibrant, dramatic and magnificent landscapes, and visitors also come to hike, bike and go bird-watching.

The mountain is a dormant volcano. Recorded eruptions massively changed the landscape in the past, giving the area an extraordinary appearance. Tianchi, or Heaven Pool, the highest volcanic lake in the world, was made during one of these geological events.

The mountain is home to more than 1,200 wildlife species including Siberian tiger, deer, bear, leopard and eagle.




 

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