Film and television IPs linked with urban cultural tourism have boosted cultural tourism consumption in Shandong during this year's Spring Festival.

Movie-related tourism has become a new trend, attracting visitors to attractions such as Chinatown-themed sets from the film "Detective Chinatown 1900" in Shandong's Dezhou Laoling Film Studio.

The many immersive experiences and entertainment options on offer are drawing in crowds and promoting local culture. The success of local film shoots has turned movies into cultural symbols, boosting local pride and cinema attendance.

This surge in tourism has significantly boosted local businesses, with Laoling receiving around 700,000 visitors during the Spring Festival holiday, generating over 90 million yuan ($12.4 million) in revenue.

This influx demonstrates how film and urban tourism empower one another. Shandong's film industry is thriving, with over 708 operating cinemas and 4,700 screens.

During Spring Festival, county-level box-office revenue briefly ranked in the top five nationwide, reflecting increasing consumption in smaller cities and counties and signaling new opportunities for the film and cultural consumption sectors.

Dezhou's Laoling Film Studio, where Detective Chinatown 1900 was filmed, welcomed more than 700,000 visitors during this year's Spring Festival. [Photo/WeCat account: dezhougy]