Dramas bring consumption boom to Zhoushan

A scene featuring Huanglong Island from the historical drama Swords into Plowshares. [Photo/Huace Group]

A wave of TV and web dramas featuring Zhoushan elements, showcasing the city's unique island landscapes and cultural heritage, has sparked a surge in tourism and cultural consumption.

The Zhejiang-produced historical drama Swords into Plowshares premiered on Jan 23 and features a brief scene shot on Huanglong Island in Shengsi county. Similarly, Seascape of the Heart, filmed entirely in Zhoushan, has topped the ratings since its Jan 15 debut. These dramas have captivated viewers, drawing significant attention to the city.

The rise in popularity of these dramas has directly boosted tourism in the featured filming locations. As one of the major filming locations for Seascape of the Heart, the Zhujiajian Daqingshan Scenic Area hosted 14,568 visitor trips in January, a 140.52 percent increase compared to last year.

Silent Honor, a spy drama that premiered in September last year, prominently features scenes of the Shenjiamen Fishing Port and Miaojialu site, which led to an 11.7 percent year-on-year increase in tourist trips, reaching about 5.64 million in the fourth quarter alone.

Zhoushan has already attracted 17 film productions in January, generating over 51 million yuan (about $7 million) in spending, including on accommodation and dining. The city is continuing to drive the integration of film and tourism, converting popular dramas into real tourism consumption and economic gains.