"It turns out the steps General Wu Shi walked on are right outside my door!" On October 20th, following the successful conclusion of CCTV's annual spy drama "Silent Glory," the Xiamen Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism launched the "Hero City · Road to Glory" themed route. This itinerary features 12 filming locations frequently featured in the series, including Gulangyu Seaview Garden, Jimei University's Shangzhong Buildings, and the Hongyanzhuang Puppet Art Museum. The itinerary invites tourists from around the country to transition from "watching the show" to "seeing the scenery," sparking a new wave of red tourism in Xiamen during the post-National Day off-season.
1. Gulangyu Seaview Garden: Memories of War Embraced in Red Bricks
At 7 a.m., the first ferry docked, and tourist Ms. Wang, suitcase in hand, headed straight for the Seaview Garden. "The 'Guangfu Electric Power Company Guesthouse' in the drama is the former site of the Yude Girls' School. I came here specifically to take photos of the same setting," she said, showing a comparison photo on her phone: pointed arched windows, ivy, mottled steps, every brick and tile is exactly the same as in the film.
Guanhai Garden occupies one-twentieth of Gulangyu Island and boasts 20 national and municipal protected buildings. The crew filmed there for three months last year, bringing this 19th-century "Museum of International Architecture" back to the forefront. The park's director explained that while the interior is not yet fully open to the public, a "Glory Check-in Wall" and QR code audio guides have been installed. Visitors can scan the code to hear a comparison between the drama's lines and real history.
2. Jimei University: The "National Taiwan University" in the Jiageng Building
"I never expected my alma mater to become 'someone else's university.'" Wu Qianchen, a 2021 graduate of Jimei University's School of Finance and Economics, returned to campus over the weekend and noticed a surge in "visitor classmates" on the lawn in front of Shangzhong Building. The scenes at National Taiwan University in the drama were filmed here. With its red brick swallowtails and green tiled eaves, the Tan Kah Kee style perfectly aligns with the period feel required by the plot.
The university has also launched a "Glory Jida" reservation channel, with a daily limit of 300 visitors. Students from the school history association volunteer to explain the "hidden stories within the buildings." According to statistics, within three weeks of the series' airing, visitor numbers to Jida's various campuses increased by 178% month-over-month, and bookings for nearby B&Bs also increased by 60%.
3. Hongyanzhuang Puppet Art Museum: A Memory of Family and Country Through Intangible Cultural Heritage
"We dismantled the entire traditional stage and rebuilt it in Zhangzhou Ancient City, all for a three-minute scene." Zhuang Yanhong, director of the Hongyanzhuang Puppet Art Museum, recalls the details of the production with emotion on the second floor of the Happy Twist Theater at 217 Zhongshan Road.
Today, the museum features a 1:1 replica of scenes from the play, located next to the original stage. Visitors can not only enjoy classic glove puppet shows like "Five Miles of Rainbow" and "Zheng Chenggong Recovers Taiwan," but also experience operating a "General Puppet" and immerse themselves in the undercurrents of the play's "Wu Shi Watching the Play." On the first weekend after the National Day holiday, the venue's average daily visitor count exceeded 2,000, setting a new record since its opening.
4. The "Multiplier Effect" of the Red Economy is Emerging
"Watching the drama and the scenery" are driving growth across the entire transportation, accommodation, and catering chain. Xiamen's cultural and tourism data shows that from October 8th to 20th, hotel bookings citywide increased by 42% year-on-year, with Gulangyu Island and Jimei School Village seeing increases of 65% and 58%, respectively. Even with ferry companies adding nighttime flights, tickets are still hard to come by.
"Film and television productions have become a powerful gateway to attract visitors to the city," said Huang Fucai, director of the Department of Tourism at Xiamen University. He believes that "Silent Glory" combines Xiamen's Nanyang culture, the Jiageng spirit, and the history of the Hidden Front, providing a "Xiamen model" for a differentiated red tourism experience.
5. Friendly Reminders
1. Guanhai Garden is currently partially open. Visitors are requested to make reservations in advance and follow on-site diversion instructions.
2. The Shangzhong Building and Yungong Building complexes at Jimei University are open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Visitors must bring their ID card for admission.
3. The Hongyanzhuang Puppet Art Museum offers public performances at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM daily. Reservations can be made by following the "Xiamen Culture and Tourism" official account.
4. The last night ferry from the ferry terminal to Gulangyu Island has been adjusted to 11:45 PM. Please plan your trip accordingly.
It is reported that the Xiamen Culture and Tourism Bureau will collaborate with the film crew to release a digital collection of "Glory Heroes" and launch an AR check-in mini-program, allowing visitors to interact with "General Wu Shi" through a virtual and real-world experience, further amplifying the long-tail effect of the film and television IP.