Fans of Chinese TV and movies flock to cities where stories are set
During the past month, the coastal city of Jiangmen in Guangdong province welcomed a surge of tourists. Many of them visited the city due to the TV series The Knockout, which debuted in mid-January and quickly became a hit.
The 39-episode drama tells the story of a police officer's fight against organized crime over the course of 20 years. As of press time, it had earned 8.5 out of 10 points on the review platform Douban, based on more than 600,000 votes.
Most of the drama's emotional scenes were shot in Jiangmen, which features various old streets and historical buildings that blend Chinese and Western elements.
"It is a small but charming city," a netizen said on Chinese lifestyle-sharing platform Xiaohongshu after touring Jiangmen recently.
"I took some great photos at the filming locations and tasted local specialties including noodles with trotters. No wonder it is the favorite food of Gao Qiqiang (the protagonist in the drama)," she said.
According to data from online travel agency Ctrip.com, searches for Jiangmen between Jan 20 and Feb 2 on its platform increased by 163 percent compared with the previous two weeks. Meanwhile, bookings for Jiangmen-related tour products rose 121 percent, Ctrip.com said.
The blockbuster movie, Full River Red, which was released on the first day of the recent Spring Festival holiday, also boosted the tourism of Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi province.
The suspense comedy, inspired by a famous poem that is believed to have been created by military general Yue Fei in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), was mainly shot at a filming base in the old county seat of Taiyuan. Some sets, costumes and props of the film were retained, allowing tourists to play the film roles themselves and have an immersive experience.
Putting on armor and climbing to the top of a traditional building while reciting the poem has become popular among tourists to the ancient town, said staff members.
