Welcome to Dragon Restaurant film highlights Chinese film industry and TCL globalization

The film ‘Welcome to Dragon Restaurant’ has achieved a box office of approximately 1.3 billion yuan, highlighting the industrial capabilities of China’s film production bases. Although the story is set in the Middle East, 70% of the scenes were filmed at the Oriental Movie Metropolis in Qingdao, Shandong. The production involved constructing over 100,000 square meters of sets, including more than 200 buildings, to recreate authentic Middle Eastern environments with high levels of detail.

Industry experts note that the film demonstrates a shift in Chinese cinema from creating mere spectacles to ‘creating life,’ utilizing heavy industrial capabilities to support realistic narratives. While AI and virtual production are growing, the production team emphasized that physical sets remain irreplaceable for achieving the specific textures and emotional depth required for realistic storytelling. The studio also utilized 3D scanning technology to create digital assets for background characters.

Additionally, the film features TCL products, reflecting the brand’s long-standing global presence. The inclusion of a TCL television in a scene set during the 2003 Iraq War aligns with the company’s historical expansion into Middle Eastern markets, which began in the late 1990s. TCL currently maintains significant market shares in various international regions, including the Middle East, North America, and Europe.