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A screenshot from the trailer of Ne Zha 2. [Photo/Guilin Evening News]
The movie Ne Zha 2 Mo Tong Nao Hai, commonly referred to as Ne Zha 2, has been breaking box office records since its release on Jan 29. Notably, the beautiful scenery of Chentangguan Pass featured in the movie is inspired by the landscapes of Guilin in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.
Behind the movie's success is the hard work of over 4,000 animation personnel, who worked on the production for over five years. Director Yang Yu shared in an interview that Ne Zha 2 presented greater artistic challenges than previous films and required significant innovation. One particular battle scene at Chentangguan Pass took six months of storyboarding, despite being only about one minute long in the movie.
Chentangguan Pass is the hometown of Ne Zha and a significant location in the movie, catching the attention of many viewers.
Chen Lingxiao, the movie's modeling animator, said that although he had never visited Guilin before, he collected extensive images and videos of its landscapes to accurately model the karst topography and local flora. He focused on the Lijiang River, a famous natural landmark in Guilin. Immersed in his work, he often dreamed of exploring Guilin's beautiful landscapes himself.
Chen's dream came true after visiting Guilin during the 2024 National Day holiday. He visited the Lijiang River, took a bamboo raft down the Yulong River in Yangshuo, visited the Longsheng Rice Terraces, and tasted local delicacies like Guilin rice noodles. Despite having seen countless photos and videos, Chen was still awed by Guilin's stunning natural beauty.
