A replica of Chang'an, the capital of China’s Tang Dynasty (618-907), has seen a surge in international tourists flocking to its historical film set in Xiangyang City, central China's Hubei Province, driven by growing enthusiasm for Chinese historical films and TV dramas.
The Xiangyang Shengshi Tang City Scenic Spot, also known as the Tang City Film Base, has served as the set for numerous renowned domestic and international films and TV dramas, including “The Legend of the Demon Cat.”
Faithful to the architecture and street layout of Chang'an City, the replica showcases the majestic style of the Tang Dynasty, one of the most advanced empires in ancient China.
"We are now on the most famous street in Xiangyang Shengshi Tang City Scenic Spot, called 'West Market,' a popular filming location for many movies. As you can see, the buildings in this district are primarily painted peacock blue and red--colors that symbolize the vibrant prosperity of the Tang Dynasty,” said Xing Ji, a Tang Dynasty culture ambassador at the film base.
Xing said the scenic spot has been attracting an increasing number of tourists from around the world, many of whom are visiting China under the relaxed visa-free policy and are eager to explore the charm of the country's millennium-old history.
"There are also many international students visiting this film base. I recall that more than 100 of them once came, all dressed in Hanfu (traditional Chinese attire). The first thing I taught them was the etiquette of the Tang Dynasty. Recently, with China’s visa-free policy in place, the number of foreign tourists visiting this scenic spot has surpassed 10,000 annually," said Xing.
Last year, China significantly relaxed its visa-free transit policy, extending the permitted stay for eligible foreign travelers from the original 72 or 144 hours to 240 hours, or 10 days.
Replica of ancient Chinese capital draws growing number of international tourists
