Former Site of Hongqing Building, No 6 Xinchao Hutong. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Every spring, film fans from across the country flock to Beijing like migratory birds to see the best films on the big screen at the Beijing Film & Life Festival. This year's BJIFF introduces three one-stop travel routes that will allow film fans to better explore the visual tapestry of this oriental film capital. The routes will not only highlight Beijing's vibrant nightlife, but also its citizens' warm hospitality.
As one of Beijing's most iconic travel routes, Qianmen Street sits along the city's central axis adjacent to Tiananmen Square. This historic district preserves Beijing's ancient architectural heritage, showcasing the quintessential charm of old Beijing. At the same time, as Beijing's traditional commercial district, it is home to a number of time-honored brands and century-old shops selling authentic local products, with each shop front whispering stories about Beijing's cultural heritage.
During the film festival, we will launch the "Qianmen Time-Honored Brands Food & Fun Map", with Daguanlou Cinema at its center, connecting with many time-honored business stores and museums in the Qianmen business district. Film fans can enjoy exclusive discounts with their film festival screening ticket stubs or film festival certificates. Watch classic films, listen to Beijing's iconic dialect melodies, eat authentic local cuisine, and be immersed in the dual beauty of silver screen artistry and historical legacy.
Yanqi Lake International Convention & Exhibition Center · BJIFF Opening Ceremony [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
In the second travel route, we will guide you to delve into Beijing's cinematic heritage.
The Yanqi Lake area in Huairou district, which hosts the BJIFF's annual opening ceremony, is also home to the "China Film Capital", China (Huairou) Film and Television Base, and the Huairou campus of Beijing Film Academy. During the film festival, 30 selected hotels and 72 homestays in Huairou district will provide exclusive discounts ranging from 12 percent to 50 percent off to all film fans.
Last year, our "Spend Your Weekend at the Film Town" carnival series received unanimous praise from fans. This year, based on the Film Carnival, we will launch the BJIFF Huairou travel route.
Yanqi Lake Tourist Area [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Along this route, you can explore iconic filming locations in the film and television base, stay in film-themed hotels, and attend the graduation exhibition of the Beijing Film Academy's Huairou campus, directly witnessing the creation of the new generation of contemporary Chinese filmmakers. In addition, Huairou boasts Beijing's most concentrated natural landscapes, including Yanqi Lake, Mutianyu Great Wall, and Qinglong Gorge, allowing you to immerse yourself in cinematic wonder while rejuvenating in serene natural beauty.
If history has laid the rich foundation of Beijing's cultural heritage, then the ever-evolving cultural events and dazzling metropolitan nightlife in the CBD core area represent its most intoxicating contemporary charm. At the Beijing Film & Life Festival, the Chaoyang CBD core travel route will serve as a central hub for fan-favoring activities during the film festival.
Open-Air Cinema at Digital Art Park [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Three iconic cinematic landmarks in Beijing's Chaoyang CBD - Wanda Cinemas CBD branch, Fen Dou Theater at Donglang Film & TV Cultural Industrial Park, and the Open-Air Cinema at Digital Art Park - will serve as the core of this route, immersing all film fans in the most vibrant festival atmosphere. Wanda Cinemas will host a number of fan-favoring activities, partnering with renowned film clubs to provide audiences with exclusive fan-favoring gifts such as customized ticket holders and special edition posters.
Meanwhile, film creators will also make surprise appearances for post-screening interactions and hold on-site lucky draws to give away exciting prizes to film fans. Donglang Industrial Park will partner with Open-Air Cinema for screenings, and with restaurants, cafes and bars in the park to provide fans with gourmet food and drinks - coffee by day and cocktails by night - ensuring non-stop fun under the glow of the silver screen. During the film festival, a mysterious "Cinema Ambassador" will also guide you to Internet-famous cafes and themed restaurants, as well as outdoor film screenings. The curtain is about to rise on this cinematic celebration - let's look forward to it together.
