Chinese Movie Shot in Israel Expected to Boost Tourism

（CRI Online）  11:14, April 19, 2013  

The Chinese rom-com "The Old Cinderella" has begun shooting in the Old City of Jerusalem with leading actress Zhang Jingchu, and actors Pan Yueming and Kenji Wu.

Zhang remarks she is overwhelmed by the welcoming people during her second visit to the historical and sacred city.

"To be honest, everybody was asking me and worried about me. They said: are you going to Israel? Is that dangerous there? But because I keep sending photos and blogs back, they say oh it's so beautiful, and very peaceful, and a very artistic place. It's totally another image. I think it's very important for Chinese people to know the true Israel."

Over a sixth of the film's length will feature scenes shot in Israel.

After Jerusalem the production team will travel to Tel Aviv-Jaffa, then the Dead Sea with a local Israeli film production company.

Zhang hopes the film resonates with Chinese audiences and inspires them to learn more about the country.

"I think it's a kind of lucky for Chinese people. In the movie theatre they will be able to see the amazing scenes, those ending parts, to see floating on the Dead Sea, see these sacred places, and all the inspiring improvisations we are going to do in the movie and then show it to the audience. It's great."

Noaz Bar Nir, the Director General of Israel's Tourism Ministry, expects the film will increase the number of Chinese tourists eager to see his country.

"We think this movie is very important. Chinese people will know and recognize Israel, the good parts of Israel. And we're sure that after this movie, after that more than hundreds of millions of Chinese people will be exposed to this movie, I hope that part of them, only a small part of them will come to Israel, it's will be enough."

The Israel Tourism Ministry has invested over 80,000-US dollars to promote the film.

In 2011 and 2012 some 20,000 Chinese tourists visited Israel.

A recent survey shows 8-million Chinese tourists selected their destinations based on the places they see in movies.