The giant sign of the China Movie Metropolis in Qingdao West Coast New Area. [Photo/WeChat account: qdxihaianfabu]

According to data from online platforms, as of 1:28 pm on Feb 4, the total number of moviegoers in China during the 2025 Chinese New Year season (including previews and presales) had exceeded 170 million, a new record for the number of viewers during the Chinese New Year season.

Amid this Chinese New Year movie-watching craze, two films, Creation of the Gods II and Operation Leviathan, born at the Qingdao Film and Television Base in Qingdao West Coast New Area, have performed remarkably well, demonstrating the strong industrialization of the film industry.

The main filming locations of the Creation of the Gods series include the China Movie Metropolis and the Northern Micro-drama City, both of which are part of the Qingdao Film and Television Base. The films not only bring together a powerful cast of characters from the Creation of the Gods story but also showcase the film crew's impressive skills in scene construction and special effects production. In order to create a realistic environment and suitable atmosphere for the Kingdom of Xiqi, a set called Xiqi City was built, which includes permanent, iconic buildings.

Meanwhile, Operation Leviathan attracted widespread attention from audiences with its realistic submarine scenes, mysterious images of submarine soldiers, and the rigorous training of the actors. Previously, news of the 1:1 submarine setting in the movie had sparked discussions online. In the film, the super submarine allows viewers to feel like they're witnessing the nation's heavy weaponry up close.