As the lights brightened on the opening night of the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF), a century-old street in Shanghai took center stage. Zhapu Road Scenic Area, a historic district lined with traditional shikumen buildings, served as the backdrop for the festival’s opening film "She's Got No Name". Now, this cinematic spotlight is fueling a new wave of cultural tourism.
Film crews meticulously preserved key architectural features while adapting interiors for modern scenes. This blend of preservation and innovation has drawn visitors eager to experience both heritage and the modern twist seen on screen:
- Heritage revived: Guided tours of restored shikumen houses saw a 40% jump in bookings.
- Traffic surge: Local cafes and boutiques report a 30% increase in foot traffic since SIFF began.
- Global reach: Online searches for "Zhapu Road" spiked 55% across G20 nations in the first fortnight.
Experts say the “film + cultural tourism” model is more than a trend—it’s a strategic move to boost the Chinese mainland’s high-quality economic development while celebrating local identity. For young travelers and digital nomads, Zhapu Road now offers immersive history tours, pop-up film sets you can explore, and sustainable stays in refurbished heritage villas.
From New Zealand’s Hobbiton to Italy’s Taormina, film locations around the world have long driven tourism. Shanghai’s Zhapu Road adds a fresh chapter, showing how storytelling and heritage can create real-world impact and forge deeper connections across cultures.
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Filming location of 27th SIFF opening film sees wave of tourism
cgtn.com
