Ne Zha 2 sparks travel curiosity among viewers in China's Hong Kong, Macao

Moviegoers in Hong Kong and Macao have found a renewed interest in traveling to the Chinese mainland after viewing recent blockbuster hits like the chart-topping animated film Ne Zha 2.

Hong Kong and Macao hosted the "China Travel with Chinese Films" event yesterday, attracting a large number of local residents and expats to inquire about travel opportunities at film locations and settings featured in popular movies. As a sequel to the 2019 animated adventure "Ne Zha," the film has shattered multiple records since its premiere on Jan 29. With audiences in China's two special administrative regions flocking to cinemas, an initiative launched Saturday, titled "China Travel with Chinese Films", is seeking to convert these moviegoers into journeying explorers.

At a cinema in Hong Kong, China Travel Service (CTS) and several online travel platforms have set up booths to showcase China's rich cultural heritage and diverse tourism resources. Visitors can learn about film locations, shooting sites, and the real-life settings within the movie storylines.

"I found it very interesting that in 'Ne Zha 2,' the character Taiyi Zhenren (Ne Zha's mentor) speaks with a Sichuan dialect. I heard that [the voice actor of] Taiyi Zhenren is actually from Sichuan. This makes it (the character) quite vivid, and it makes me want to go to Sichuan," said Lam, a moviegoer and Hong Kong resident.

"After watching the film, we saw the CTS booth here, and we came to learn more, hoping we might travel to the Mainland in the future," said Sam, another moviegoer living in Hong Kong.

According to film professionals, the ability of cinema to inspire tourism may soon arise as a fresh trend in the industry.

"A movie can stimulate direct consumption, such as in the food and beverage industry. But I think its driving force will be even greater for delayed consumption, like tourism. For foreign countries, the self-confidence in Chinese culture displayed by 'Ne Zha 2' will attract more and more foreign friends who like Chinese culture to travel in China and experience a different China," said David Ding Kai, general manager of the Sil-Metropole Organization, a Hong Kong-based film and television production company.

Meanwhile, the "China Travel with Chinese Films" at a cinema in Macao also proved popular among Nezha 2 viewers in Macao.

"The film has incorporated a lot of traditional Chinese culture. For example, the design of the 'Boundary Guardian Beasts' were inspired by ancient bronze artifacts. It makes me want to visit Sanxingdui Ruins, [considered one of the world's most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century], to see these bronze wares in person," said Chan, a moviegoer and Macao resident.

As Chinese New Year films continue to gain global popularity, the initiative has even attracted foreign residents and visitors in the special administrative regions.

Steven Choi, a moviegoer from the United States, said the movie sparked his interest in traveling to the Chinese Mainland to learn more about the history of the Qin Dynasty (221BC - 207BC) and Tang Dynasty (618-907).

"I have to say it's very worth a try," said Steven Choi, a moviegoer from the United States.

"Ne Zha 2 has crossed a lot of expectations, and it's one of the highest grossing movies. And it really has a profound culture. And seeing that movie just makes me want to go to these places because like it really looks amazing and the food and culture and everything. I think it's just awesome," said Danny, a foreign visitor who viewed Ne Zha 2 in Macao.

Ne Zha 2 sparks travel curiosity among viewers in China's Hong Kong, Macao

The Japanese society should do soul-searching regarding its history of aggression and adhere to the pacifist constitution, said Shiradori Hiroshi, a professor of the Hosei University, in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) in Tokyo on April 30.

He said the government's recent move to discuss revising the three security documents deserve particular attention as the country's foreign and security policies have already witnessed major changes.

"People outside of the country hold that Japan's post-war image as a 'peace state' is now facing a major shift. Against the backdrop of tremendous changes in its foreign and security policies, the revision of the three security documents deserves particular attention. There lacks public debate in terms of the procedure, with policy changes decided unilaterally at Cabinet meetings. It is necessary to fully explain to the public as to whether such a practice is proper," said Hiroshi.

The Japanese government held its first expert panel meeting to discuss revisions to the three security documents at the Prime Minister's Office on April 27, local media reported.

Japan's current National Security Strategy and two related documents, formulated in 2022, were designed to cover the next 10 years, but the government led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has decided to move up the timetable to accelerate the revision process.

Increasing defense spending is one of the key topics of the meeting, according to Kyodo News.

Hiroshi said this year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, or Tokyo Trials, and the Japanese society must do soul-searching regarding its history of aggression in WWII, when it brought enormous catastrophes on Asian countries.

"Eighty years have passed since the opening of the Tokyo Trials. Japan inflicted enormous suffering on Asian countries during WWII, which should serve as an opportunity for the soul-searching. It is exact on the basis of countless sacrifices that Japan's post-war pacifism and its identity as a 'peace state' took shape. On this 80th anniversary, it is necessary for Japan to re-examine and do soul-searching regarding its history," said Hiroshi.

The Japanese government's effort to revise the pacifist constitution is widely opposed by the public.

On Sunday, around 50,000 people gathered at Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park, chanting slogans and holding banners against the government's push for constitutional revision and military expansion, the largest turnout of its kind in recent years.

Japan should adhere to pacifist constitution: scholar