China's Travel with Films campaign has sparked a tourism craze, drawing crowds to famous filming locations during the five-day May Day holiday that will wrap up on Tuesday.
During this holiday, a bullet train from Shenyang, the provincial capital of northeast China's Liaoning, to Beijing offered themed headscarves and a handpicked selection of films for passengers, turning the carriage into a mobile movie salon.
The passengers chatted with one another about their favorite movie genres.
"I watched Zhang Yimou's movie The Great Wall before, and I want to visit the Great Wall in person during this May Day holiday," said Zhu Huina, a passenger.
"I really hope to travel along with the movies, visiting different places to experience their unique local customs and cultures," said Li Yu, another passenger.
Deep in the Taihang Mountains of central China's Henan Province lies Guoliang Village, a cliffside settlement that has served as a filming location for over 60 film and television productions.
After some shoots wrapped up, the local community preserved a few sets and created a film and television-themed village.
Leveraging the resources of this film base, the village regularly stages immersive historical plays, and invites visitors to step into roles to experience the excitement of filmmaking firsthand.
During the holiday, the Travel with Films promotional campaign made its way to southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.
Visitors followed the cinematic trail, visiting the shooting locations of various films including the latest movies released during the holiday.
On Nanbin Road in Chongqing, a dazzling fleet of 5,000 drones took to the skies on Friday, treating residents and tourists to a spectacular light show.
In recent years, more than 500 films have been shot in Chongqing, turning the city's unique landmarks into must-see destinations.
During the holiday, Chongqing carefully curated nine themed tourism routes, organized over 100 distinctive cultural and tourism activities, creating new film-plus consumption experiences.
"In Chongqing, film and cultural tourism empower and complement each other. Visitors who come to Chongqing can follow the footsteps of the silver screen to explore the mountains and waters of Chongqing, savor the vibrant local life, and personally experience the boundless charm of the majestic landscapes and the modern spirit of Chongqing," said Li Yanhua, director of the Film Division under the Publicity Department of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee.
The China Film Administration has launched a series of initiatives in 2026, including campaigns such as "Travel with Films," "Taste Cuisine with Films," and "Shopping with Films."
Films boost tourism across China during May Day holiday
Films boost tourism across China during May Day holiday
