Chinese anti-war film turns film base into popular tourist destination

The popular Chinese anti-war film “Once Upon a Time in the Middle East” has drawn attention to Shitanjing, a filming base in the city of Shizuishan in northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

With its rugged Gobi landscapes, vast deserts and striking industrial ruins, the former coal mining town was transformed into a Middle Eastern setting for the film.

The heavily guarded military checkpoint featured in the film is actually the iconic Shitanjing stone gatehouse, which is now one of the most popular photo spots in the area, attracting fans who come here especially after watching the film.

“Yesterday I took my child to see this movie together. It just so happened that I found out that it was filmed right here in our area, so I really wanted to come to this filming base to experience the filmmaking atmosphere firsthand,” said Gao, a visitor.

“My husband used to work here, so we came to reminisce. Much has changed here, but traces of the past can still be seen. All the old buildings are still here,” said Lee, another visitor.

“The building to our left used to be called the Fuxing Building, also known as Fuxing Department Store. There were tin-roofed shacks on both sides of the street, and the entire street was decorated with signs, and it all had a distinctly Middle Eastern feel,” said Wang Peng, secretary of the Shitanjing District Party Working Committee.

Once Upon a Time in the Middle East is about a Chinese man working as a chef at a Chinese restaurant in the Middle East in the 2000s when war breaks out. The film received widespread recognition due to solid word-of-mouth and strong box office returns.

Since the film’s release on August 11, the number of daily tourist visits to Shitanjing has reached 8,000, 16 times the number before the film’s release. To date, a total of 160,000 tourists have visited Shitanjing this year.

Chinese anti-war film turns film base into popular tourist destination

In addition to sightseeing and dining, international tourists visiting Shanghai are adding a new stop to their itineraries: hair salons. From precision cuts to bespoke colours, personal styling services are becoming a new and increasingly popular way for visitors to experience the city’s vibrant local life.

Swiss tourist Elif and her friend booked the beauty salon on social media before arriving in Shanghai for a 10-day trip, wanting to try out an Asian-inspired look.

“I saw some videos and the place was much more approachable, like we could tell there were other foreigners here and so it was easy to communicate because they also spoke English,” she said.

After an in-depth consultation, the stylist designed layers, curls and bangs to suit Elif’s face shape, hair texture and everyday wardrobe—a level of customization she says is hard to find at home.

“It will cost me a little less than half of what I would pay in my home country,” she said.

The salon is located on Laowai Road in Shanghai’s Minhan district, an area long popular with foreigners. As inbound tourism continues to grow, the number of foreign clients has increased markedly.

“We have clients from Europe, the Middle East and South Africa. We have seen a clear increase in the number of foreign tourists, with 20 to 30 foreign clients arriving every month,” said Li Menghua, a salon owner.

To meet the diverse needs of international clients who vary widely in hair texture and aesthetic preferences, the salon offers customized one-on-one styling sessions. Staff also receive regular English language training to ensure smooth communication.

Lee now has more than 8,000 foreign clients in his contact list, with notes on their names and style preferences. Many became regulars, returning every month or two; others make it a point to come here every time they come to Shanghai on business.

“I started meeting him last year, they speak English, the service is really good and he knows a lot about foreigners’ hairstyles,” said Julie, a tourist from France.

Shanghai’s hair salons have become a must-visit destination for incoming tourists.