Picture Perfect

Famous landscapes and monuments across China have been featured in several recent feature films. This is the fourth installment in a series about these star attractions.

Qiao's Family Mansion, Qixian County, Shanxi in Raise the Red Lantern (Dahong Denglong Gaogao Gua)

Those who have seen Zhang Yimou's Raise the Red Lantern will always remember the huge courtyard compound hung with red lanterns. The concubine played by Gong Li lives in one of the numerous courtyards of the compound, scheming against the other three wives to curry favor with the mysterious master of the mansion.

In real life the compound does belong to a powerful owner. Located in Qixian county, 50 km from Taiyuan, the capital of north China's Shanxi province, the mansion has a history of nearly 300 years. A successful businessman, Qiao Zhiyong, built it during the reign of the Emperor Qian Long (1711-1799) of the Qing Dynasty. A huge estate covering 9,000 sq m, it has 313 rooms within 6 large courtyards and 19 smaller courtyards. It has now been turned to be a museum of local customs in the late Qing Dynasty and the early 20th century.

Goldfinch Restaurant, Hong Kong in In the Mood for Love (Huayang Nianhua) and 2046

The 46-year-old Goldfinch Restaurant in Hong Kong, where the characters played by Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung date in 2046 and In the Mood for Love (Huayang Nianhua), is well known not just because of the two award-winning films of director Wong Kar-wai. The steak and Russian soup there established its reputation long before. The restaurant with its dark red walls and green tablecloth not only has eye-catching posters of the two movies, but also serves an "In the Mood for Love package" and a "2046 package".

Directions: The address is 13-15, Lan Fong Rd. Causeway Bay, near the Central District.

(China Daily 08/16/2008 page15)