As the Chaoshan-language film Dear You has grossed more than 1.2 billion yuan at the box office, Shantou, a city in eastern Guangdong, is moving quickly to turn big-screen popularity into real visitor numbers.
On May 23, a week before the box office milestone, local tourism authorities dispatched the first guided tour featuring filming locations from the movie.
The inaugural group of nearly 100 visitors followed in the footsteps of the film's characters across ancestral halls and olive groves. The morning itinerary took them through Qifeng Chen Ancestral Hall (起凤陈公祠), Zhang Residence (张厝内) on Zhangdong Road, and Xiangrong Villa (向荣别墅), all traditional Chaoshan buildings that served as key filming locations. Lunch was a selection of authentic local dishes. In the afternoon, the group headed to Xialiao Village (下寮村) in Jinzao Town, where they walked among olive trees, including one estimated to be 520 years old, and picked waxberries.
A visitor from Shenzhen surnamed Yang said the architecture "carries a real sense of history" and noted the mix of Chaoshan and Southeast Asian styles. "When the film scenes unfold before your eyes, the screen and the real world overlap," she commented.
The local tourism bureau has since rolled out three official themed routes centered on the film and the region's "qiaopi" heritage – remittance letters sent home by overseas Chinese. The tours range from a one-day trip covering the Qiaopi Museum, the location of Siam Cinema on Haiping Road, and the Zhenbang Road food street, to a three-day journey that also includes the Chaoshan Historical and Cultural Expo Center and the ancient port of Zhanglin.
Dear You, filmed mostly in old neighborhoods and villages across the Chaoshan region, entered the top five of China's 2026 box office rankings on May 24. The film tells a heartfelt story tied to the Chaoshan diaspora. Since its release, its featured locations, including clan halls, waterfront cinemas and olive groves, have attracted a growing stream of visitors. Local authorities said more themed tours will be launched in the coming months, integrating sports events, intangible cultural heritage and rural tourism.
Author | Feng Huiting
Photo | Shantou Fabu
