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Xiamen launches film-themed tours in cultural tourism push

China

China

China

Xiamen launches film-themed tours in cultural tourism push

2026-05-02 14:03 Last Updated At:14:47

Xiamen is blurring the lines between the silver screen and the streetscape with the launch of a film-themed tourism activity, which was hosted in the coastal hub of east China's Fujian Province, offers visitors an immersive cultural experience by bringing iconic movie locations and cinematic history to life.

Attractions such as the Zhonggu Cableway, now wrapped in cinematic decorations, and a dazzling light show at the iconic Twin Towers have drawn crowds of enthusiastic tourists to explore the scenes they once saw on the big screen.

The 1000-meter-long cableway offers panoramic views of the city's landmarks including the Botanical Garden, Gulangyu Island and the sail-shaped Xiamen Twin Towers, from the air, making it a popular spot for tourists. Several cable cars have been redecorated with themed posters and slogans such as "Travel through Films."

"I want to have a bird's eye view of the city. It's really wonderful," said a tourist.

Adding to the event's appeal, as night fell, the Twin Towers are illuminated with lights, displaying scrolling messages such as "Travel through Films" and "See You at the Cinema on May Day Holiday," attracting many visitors to stop and watch, capturing the moment.

As part of the event, a special film-themed flight campaign lifted off on Tuesday. It took off aboard a plane operated by Xiamen Airlines, bringing the magic of the big screen to the small screens on passengers' seats.

The aircraft's cabin were adorned with film-themed posters and exclusive decorations, with brochures introducing the featured film content placed in seat pockets.

During the flight, the crew hosted an interactive question-and-answer session, where they promoted some of the top films being released during the five-day May Day holiday which began on Friday.

They also shared insights into the featured films, including the cultural and tourism resources of their shooting locations, giving passengers inside cinematic info and essential travel tips during their trip.

Xiamen has launched several tourism routes under the theme "Tourism through Movies," showcasing the harbor scenery of Shapowei, the traditional arcade buildings on Zhongshan Road, the historical streets of Gulangyu Island and the campus scenery of Jimei School Village. This fresh fusion of film and culture is drawing more tourists to the coastal city.

Xiamen launches film-themed tours in cultural tourism push

Xiamen launches film-themed tours in cultural tourism push

A surge in cross-border travel has swept through the Zhuhai Port of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge in south China during the five-day May Day holiday starting from Friday, as growing numbers of residents from the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao head to the mainland for leisure and tourism.

Since April 29, or Wednesday, the border inspection station of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge has recorded 226,000 passenger trips and 52,000 vehicle crossings as of 16:00 on Friday. The current flow is primarily inbound, with many travelers choosing to enter the mainland ahead of the official holiday rush.

According to data from the border inspection station of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the holiday traffic has been predominantly inbound. The port officially entered its peak period on Wednesday, with daily passenger flow averaging around 80,000 people, a 10-percent increase compared to pre-holiday levels. This year's travel boom has come from sharp increase in family tours and parent-child tours.

"Today is the [first day of] May Day holiday, and I'm traveling with my family to Nansha [in Guangzhou] and Zhuhai," said a tourist from Hong Kong.

In addition to Guangdong Province, many other places near Guangdong on the mainland are also among the tourism options of people from Hong Kong and Macao.

"The number of residents from Hong Kong and Macao embarking on in-depth and long-distance tours to provinces on the mainland has seen a significant rise. We've seen an increase of about 20 percent compared to previous periods, with destinations like Yunnan, Sichuan and Guizhou emerging as popular choices," said Bao Haiyang, a customs officer with the border inspection station of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

According to authorities with the border inspection station of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the vehicle traffic is projected to hit its peak on May 3, or Sunday, with an estimated 28,000 vehicles expected to cross in a single day.

To cope with the high traffic volume, the border inspection station has implemented a specialized operational plan to manage the traffic influx and ensure a smooth and efficient travel experience for everyone.

Holiday travel surges as Hong Kong, Macao residents flock north during May Day holiday

Holiday travel surges as Hong Kong, Macao residents flock north during May Day holiday

Holiday travel surges as Hong Kong, Macao residents flock north during May Day holiday

Holiday travel surges as Hong Kong, Macao residents flock north during May Day holiday

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