From the lush mountains of Sichuan to the timeless sands of Dunhuang, foreign content creators are rewriting the playbook for exploring China—one cinematic landmark at a time. Inspired by blockbuster films like Ne Zha and Hero, as well as globally popular video games, these vloggers are blending storytelling with cultural discovery, offering followers a front-row seat to China’s lesser-known marvels.
British travel vlogger Clara Reid recently traced the footsteps of the animated hero Ne Zha across Sichuan’s Jiuzhaigou Valley, posting vivid footage of emerald lakes and mist-shrouded peaks to her 500,000 followers. 'These landscapes feel surreal—like walking into the movie itself,' she remarked in one video, which racked up over 2 million views in three days.
Meanwhile, French filmmaker Pierre Lacroix revisited Dunhuang’s Mogao Caves—a key setting for Zhang Yimou’s Hero—capturing the site’s ancient Buddhist murals against the backdrop of the Gobi Desert. 'Every corner here whispers history,' he said. 'It’s no wonder these stories inspire such epic films.'
Analysts note that this trend is reshaping perceptions of China’s tourism sector. 'Film-induced travel isn’t new, but the global reach of Chinese media has amplified it,' said Dr. Li Wei, a cultural studies professor at Beijing University. 'Vloggers act as bridges, translating artistic narratives into tangible experiences for international audiences.'
For business professionals, the phenomenon signals opportunities in experiential tourism. Startups in Chengdu and Xi’an now offer film-themed tours, partnering with local guides to recreate iconic movie scenes. Meanwhile, China’s cultural authorities have highlighted the trend as a soft-power triumph, fostering cross-border connections through shared storytelling.
As the Taiwan Strait-based vlogger Kevin Chen observed, 'China’s landscapes are characters in their own right—waiting for the world to press play.'
