Visitors are seen during a study tour for mural copying at the Yongle Palace scenic area in Ruicheng, north China's Shanxi Province, Oct. 2, 2026. (Photo by Guo Song/Xinhua)

　　Liu Haibo, chairman of the Yongle Cultural Tourism Investment and Construction Co., Ltd., said the scenic site rolled out customized services to sustain its tourism growth following its viral popularity. Visitors can take photos in dedicated photo zones, guides explain the murals by linking them to scenes from the film, and tourists can attend interactive classes to learn mural copying and line drawing.

　　The movie has helped raise the profile of Ruicheng, making it a sought-after destination, especially among young people. Statistics showed that between Oct. 1 and 5, Yongle Palace received about 80,000 visits, up more than 50 percent year on year.

　　The ancient township of Fenghuang in Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province, has kept its tourist momentum following the Sept. 25-27 Mid-Autumn Festival holiday.

　　During the National Day holiday, some visitors seeking to avoid the crowds have ventured beyond the ancient town of Fenghuang into surrounding mountains and villages, exploring rich ethnic cultures, such as Miao welcoming rituals, lantern shows and folk performances.

　　INTERNATIONAL VISITORS JOINING THE RUSH

　　The diverse tourism resources in China's counties are also luring international visitors away from metropolises like Beijing and Shanghai and toward niche attractions.

　　Lucas Martin, 28, from France, visited Fenghuang for the first time after touring major Chinese cities.