This summer, film locations have emerged as a surprising trend in the tourism industry, becoming a dark horse. The transformation of film and TV productions into dazzling new cultural tourism icons, drawing countless travelers to visit cities inspired by their favorite dramas or movies, is shaping up as a new direction for the tourism industry.
In Guangdong, the allure of film locations is equally significant. "The Thunder" reveals the hidden charms of Zhongshan, "The Knockout" ignites the passion in Jiangmen, "The Bad Kids" brings Zhanjiang into the public eye, and "72 Households" turns Guangzhou's Kecun into a pilgrimage site for fans of long-running TV shows. This land has captured the film industry's imagination, with numerous acclaimed productions choosing it as their backdrop. This summer, Guangdong is leveraging the popularity of these films to promote itself as a new international cultural tourism landmark.
'The Knockout' filming location: Jiangmen, Guangdong Province
The 2023 hit drama "The Knockout" has popularized Guangdong delicacies like pig trotters noodles, rice noodle rolls, and congee-based hotpot, and brought one of its filming locations, Jiangmen, into the limelight.
Xu Tai, the executive producer of "The Knockout", revealed that the crew scouted many cities before choosing Jiangmen for its unique and inclusive regional vibe. In the drama, Jiangmen's Pengjiang District, with its Changdi Historical and Cultural District, the Xuding Old Street, and the ancient river port, appear frequently. A photo shared by actor Zhang Songwen, who plays Gao Qiqiang, the protagonist in "The Knockout", features the arcade street that is a recurring scene in the show. In Jiangmen, these arcade streets, collectively known as "33 Market Streets ", are considered the city's original core. These areas, having undergone no major renovations, retain their nostalgic charm.
'72 Households' filming location: Kecun, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province
Located near the Starlight Walk in Kecun, Guangzhou, the "72 Households" filming base opened in August 2023. This Cantonese sitcom, which debuted in 2008, is set in the 1940s on Taiping Street in Guangzhou's Xiguan district, vividly depicting the joys and sorrows of 72 tenants. It has accompanied viewers for fifteen years, now entering its 19th season and becoming a beloved presence in countless households.
Among the visitors to the filming base are dedicated fans, some of whom remarked, "Starting work in Guangzhou felt immediately familiar because of '72 Households'. This series made me long for this city, truly embodying the sentiment of 'falling in love with a city through a show'."
Industry insiders note that "film and TV tourism" is essentially a phenomenon driven by popular culture, characterized by its sudden, short-lived, and unpredictable traits. The ability of destinations to absorb and capitalize on the traffic generated by film and TV productions to boost tourism consumption is key to the development of film tourism.
Looking ahead, Guangdong faces the challenge of leveraging Lingnan culture to highlight its "natural studio" appeal to convert the fleeting popularity of film IPs into lasting international cultural tourism destinations.
Source: Yangcheng Evening News
