International visitors are exploring China's rich culture in Xi'an, one of the country's celebrated ancient capitals, by participating in themed travels that combine film and tourism elements for an immersive and engaging cultural experience.
The travel activity in northwest China's Xi'an is part of the "China Travel with Chinese Films" initiative which was launched on Feb 17 and aims to leverage the international success of Chinese New Year blockbusters and recent visa-free transit policies to attract more overseas visitors to China.
The "China Travel" event was hosted by the China Film Administration and China Media Group (CMG). It focuses on promoting "film and tourism" by integrating Chinese film screenings, international film festivals, and overseas Chinese film festivals to encourage foreign audiences to experience China through cinematic storytelling.
To promote Chinese films, a group of international college students was invited by the event organizers to visit Xi'an's unique film culture district. The visit provided them with the opportunity to learn about some widely praised and award-winning Chinese films and the stories behind these cinematic achievements.
"I had seen 'Ne Zha 1' while in Vietnam, and it was amazing. Ever since, I have been eagerly awaiting its sequel. I have watched 'Ne Zha 2' twice. The first time, it felt spectacular. The music and visual effects were excellent, which made me want to watch it again. The story, inspired by the (Chinese ancient God-Demon novel) 'Investiture of the Gods', also touches on family emotions such as maternal love," Do, a Vietnamese student from Xi'an Jiaotong University, shared her thoughts on the recent blockbuster animated film and the highest-grossing Chinese film, "Ne Zha 2".
In 24 Hours in Chang'an Cultural Theme Block, China's first immersive Tang Dynasty city life district, the foreign youths also had the chance to experience Chinese intangible cultural heritage and folk art, such as sugar painting, making painted fans, and trying on traditional Chinese costumes. They also shared their thoughts about China and their personal stories during their stay in the country.
"Before coming to China, I wasn't sure what to expect. But now, I’m amazed by how much I love it, especially the city of Xi'an. We see something new and amazing every day. It's so different from what I see in France. It's an incredible experience discovering some new things here," said Hanae Jeanneton-Blateau, a French tourist.
As Chinese films continue to expand their presence in international markets, Veronique Jungmann, vice president of EGC Business School in France, shared her hope of using this opportunity to offer French students a deeper understanding of Chinese culture through their film-themed China trip.
"I'm familiar with some Chinese films, like 'Red Sorghum' directed by Zhang Yimou, which has won awards and is well-known in Europe. I also know about Bruce Lee. As for our trade management students, they have been studying Chinese for about two years. I hope they can gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture through this journey," she said.
Since January of this year, Xi'an airport has received more than 130,000 overseas passengers, marking a remarkable growth of over 95 percent compared to the same period last year.
International visitors explore cultural charm of Chinese films in Xi'an
