The Shanghai Film Festival is leveraging the growing phenomenon of movie tourism in China, showcasing the country's rich cinematic history and diverse landscapes. This year's festival features a program called "Grand Landscape: A Cinematic Portrait of China," which presents 15 Chinese classics dating back to 1960, each highlighting iconic locations across the nation. The initiative aims to encourage both locals and visitors to explore the real-life settings featured in these films, fostering a deeper appreciation for China's cultural heritage and cinematic achievements.
The festival's programming manager, Freda Fan, explains that film tourism has been gaining traction in recent years, with specific films attracting visitors to particular regions. For instance, the success of "Ne Zha 2" led to a surge in tourism to Yibin in Sichuan, while the "Creation of the Gods" series drew attention to Henan's cultural heritage. In Shanghai, the films "B for Busy" and "Her Story" have made the city's daily life and iconic alleyways, cafes, and grocery stores popular destinations for "City Walk" tours.
The "Grand Landscape" program strategically selects films that not only showcase the country's diverse regions and cultures but also have a significant impact on the local economy. Each film in the program highlights a unique aspect of China, from the mountains of Tibet to the island of Hainan, and from the Yellow River in the north to the Yangtze in the south. These classics are known to a generation, making them powerful tools for promoting tourism and cultural appreciation.
The festival's efforts are supported by local and national tourism authorities, as well as the Chinese film industry, which has embraced the concept of "film-plus." This includes initiatives like "Taste Cuisine with Films" and "Shopping with Films." The Shanghai Film Festival's focus on film tourism is a strategic move to boost the domestic economy, especially in the wake of the pandemic's impact on the film industry.
A report from the China Film Administration highlights the significant economic impact of the film industry on related sectors, with each yuan collected at the domestic box office generating 15.77 yuan for related industries, including tourism. While the "Grand Landscape" program may not cover the entire diversity of China, it represents a significant effort to showcase the beauty and stories of the land through the lens of Chinese cinema, providing a unique and engaging experience for audiences.
