Hengdian World Studios enjoys surging popularity in China tourism

China

Hengdian World Studios enjoys surging popularity in China tourism

2025-03-09 14:19 Last Updated At：16:57

Hengdian World Studios, a film and TV theme park in Hengdian of east China's Zhejiang Province, is enjoying surging popularity among international tourists thanks to the booming Chinese film industry.

Dubbed "China's Hollywood", Hengdian is one of the largest real-life film and television shooting bases in the world, and is the filming location for popular films such as war blockbuster "The Battle at Lake Changjin."

To further boost cultural and tourism industries, Hengdian has also introduced immersive experience programs such as being movie extras and performances by movie professionals.

Wearing ancient Chinese costumes and holding related props, Dabira Vianny, a student from Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of Congo, has fully enjoyed his character in a swordsman-themed movie scene at the experience zone of movie extras with his friend.

"I like Chinese movies very much. We've watched Chinese Kung Fu movies and historical movies, and movies starring Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and Bruce Lee," said Vianny.

Vianny and his African friend planned a travel route to filming locations for themselves, and visited Hangzhou, Wenzhou, Jinhua to experience Chinese landscapes and historical culture during the trip. They also shared what they saw and heard during the trip with their family and friends through photos and videos.

"They in our home country can see what China is like. If they have the chance, they can come to tour China," he said.

With China's further relaxation and optimization of the transit visa-free policy and growing interest in Chinese films, the number of foreign tourists to the Hengdian World Studios in 2024 increased nearly 10 times year on year, according to related officials.

"As Hengdian has had all the historical scenes of the past 5,000 years in China miniatured, you can see all of the past 5,000 years in just three days in one city. As a demo social media spot for traveling to China, it provides a very concise and effective way for these tourists to plan their in-depth China tours next time," said Guo Shu, head of the international business department of Hengdian World Studios.

China-U.S. dialogue "absolutely essential" for world: WEC chair

Dialogue and cooperation between China and the United States, the world's two largest economies, matters far beyond the two countries themselves, said Adnan Z. Amin, chair of the officers' council of the World Energy Council (WEC), a global network of energy organizations.

In a recent interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Amin said such dialogue gives the wider world grounds for optimism, and that the economic issues between the two sides can only be resolved through sustained engagement.

"It's absolutely essential. I think when you have two of the biggest economies in the world in dialogue and collaboration, it makes a difference for the rest of the world. It provides an optimistic approach, it provides a positive kind of perspective of where we can be going. There are hard issues to discuss. The economic trade-offs are not inconsequential. They need to be addressed. And the best way to do it is through dialogue. And to see President Xi in Washington today is very encouraging, because I think that dialogue is essential today," he said.

Amin added that policymakers should set aside reflexive hostility and focus on the tangible benefits that cooperation can bring to people in both countries.

"We need to get beyond this kind of knee-jerk antagonism that you see in certain policy circles in different countries around the world to really look at what is the reality today. How will our collaboration improve the lot of people in our countries? And what are the best areas for us to do (work on) and who has to take responsibility for what. This is essential," he said.