Shandong city turns to film industry

A full-scale replica of early 20th-century San Francisco's Chinatown at Laoling Film Studio in Dezhou, Shandong province.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A city in East China's Shandong province is turning its growing film production industry into a new driver of tourism and local consumption, as movie and television projects bring more visitors and businesses to Laoling.

In late 2023, the production team behindDetective Chinatown 1900was searching across China for a location that could recreate San Francisco's Chinatown in the early 20th century.

Laoling Film Studio offered to build a set specifically for the movie. It recreated an old San Francisco Chinatown comprising 199 buildings in just 218 days, providing the main setting for the film.

The studio had already gained attention in 2024 after the costume dramaFlourished Peony, filmed at its Tang Dynasty (618-907)-themed complex, became popular and drew visitors to the site.

Performers dressed in traditional Chinese costumes stage a show at Laoling Film Studio in Dezhou, Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The growing flow of productions has since gathered pace. In the first half of this year, Laoling Film Studio hosted 12 theatrical films and long- and medium-length drama productions. It has also signed agreements for about 100 micro-dramas, with more than 30 already completed.

Liu Yang, the studio's president, said more than 400 film, television and tourism-related companies have set up businesses in Laoling in recent years, with a pool of about 30,000 registered extras now available for productions.

Liu Zhong, director of Laoling's culture and tourism bureau, said the county-level city is seeking to integrate film production with tourism, using popular productions and filming locations to attract visitors and generate spending on dining, accommodation, transportation, retail and local specialties.

Laoling has attracted 23 new hotels, guesthouses and other accommodation businesses, bringing its total number of beds to more than 9,700. The film studio is also home to more than 200 cultural and creative businesses, restaurants and time-honored brands.