Box office hit Dear You is fuelling heritage tours to China’s Chaoshan. How are villages responding?
The Chinese film 'Dear You' has triggered a surge in heritage tourism to the Chaoshan region as descendants of migrants seek to reconnect with their ancestral roots. Local villages are now navigating the challenges of balancing increased tourism revenue with the need for privacy and preservation.
Why it matters
It demonstrates the power of media in shaping modern tourism trends and the resulting impact on local cultural heritage sites.
The Chinese box office hit is drawing overseas visitors to the Chaoshan region, transforming filming locations into heritage tourism hotspots and raising questions about preservation and privacy.
Tourists take photos with a qiaopi model on display in Xiqi Village, Jieyang, on Jul 14, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Hu Chushi)
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