Movie and TV base

This photo taken on Sunday, August 2, 2009 shows a wall with the story of 'Peacock Flies to Southeast' on it, in Xiaoshi Town of the Anqing City, in east China's Anhui Province. [CRI]

Last year, a TV play "The Peacocks Fly to Southeast" was finished at the movie and TV base in Xiaoshi Town.

The Han Dynasty-style base, which cost more than 30 million yuan to build, was expected to help the surrounding rural area develop cultural tourism based on the 'Peacock' story, Xie Wei, an official with the town, said.

Until now the site has not yet started normal business, due to underdeveloped traffic and a lack of promotion. Most tourists just come to the site after their visit to Tianzhushan Mountain, a popular nearby tourist destination.

Besides, the infrastructure here is far from good compared with that of other similar bases like the Hengdian World Studios in East China's Zhejiang Province.

Last year, when the 'Peacock' TV play was shot here, all the actors and actresses had to stay elsewhere as there isn't a single hotel nearby.

Xie says such issues will be solved as soon as news roads and other facilities are ready.

He added that stores will be opened inside the base selling local specialties or archaized commodities and every operator will be exempt from rent during the first several years.