Hengdian World Studios in Zhejiang draws more tourists with thriving travel photography business

Hengdian World Studios, China’s largest studio backlot in Zhejiang Province, is seeing a surge in visitors as its travel photography business thrives, supported by local efforts to upgrade services and refine industry standards.

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."

In a scenic corner of the studio, skilled makeup artists applied makeup and styled clients' hair, attentively considering their preferences and making timely adjustments.

They also introduced products to walk-in customers and recommended suitable outfits and styles.

"I feel it has an ancient charm with a distinctly Chinese flavor. My child saw many young girls in traditional costumes at the scenic area and became curious, saying she was very interested. So, we let her experience it as well," a tourist Huang Jingxuan said.

In February, Hengdian completed a unified renovation of five travel photography stores. The newly upgraded shops now feature neatly displayed Hanfu collections, while walls adorned with the latest makeup styles showcase a wide range of options.

Hanfu is the traditional clothing of the Han ethnic group and was formed in the main residential areas of the Han ethnic group in ancient times.

Visitors Liang Manting and Liu Longlong from Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province, opted for a martial arts-themed couple's travel shoot, carefully selecting a set that matched their vision.

"We stumbled upon this idea on the Internet and had always wanted to try this kind of photo shoot. I brought her here to experience it. At first, we were a bit stiff in front of the camera, but the photographer was very patient," said Liu.

Ahead of Labor Day, photography stores will nearly double their makeup artists and sales staff while unveiling new spring outfits for seasonal tours, ensuring a seamless experience for tourists to capture lasting memories.

Hengdian World Studios in Zhejiang draws more tourists with thriving travel photography business

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that the situation in Iran is "under total control" following violence linked to protests that spiked over the weekend.

Addressing foreign diplomats in Tehran, the foreign minister noted that armed terrorist groups had infiltrated the protests, attempting to divert them from their legitimate course. He claimed that evidence has been gathered showing Iranian security forces being shot at, with the aim of causing further casualties. He accused the United States and Israel of exploiting the unrest to interfere in Iran's internal affairs.

Araghchi further stated that the government is closely monitoring developments on the streets, emphasizing that "the situation has come under control." He also affirmed that internet services, curtailed during the unrest, would be restored after coordination with security agencies.

The government has engaged in dialogue with merchants and protest representatives and initiated reforms to address grievances related to price hikes and currency depreciation. Iran has taken a series of actions and measures to respond to the demands of peaceful demonstrators, the foreign minister said.

Earlier on Sunday, Araghchi said that clear evidence links recent riots and vandalism of public facilities in Iran to the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. This came after former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo mentioned Mossad agents operating on Iran's streets in a social media post. The Iranian foreign minister asserted that police are being attacked by "terrorists" acting under the direction of Israeli operatives, whom Pompeo publicly acknowledged.

The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and U.S. sanctions.

Iranian foreign minister says situation "fully under control," accuses Israeli intelligence of stoking unrest