Monkey King actor celebrates mini-Beijing landmark

By Zhang Rui: 0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, July 4, 2018

The miniature model of Central Color Television Center is displayed at a promotional event held at a hotel in Beijing on July 2, 2018. [Photo/China.org.cn]

Famous Monkey King actor Zhang Jinlai and three fellow actors from the most popular TV series "Journey to the West" reunited in Beijing on Monday to unveil a miniature model of iconic Beijing landmark, the old headquarters of China Central Television (CCTV).

The 136.5-meter tower, named "Central Color Television Center," served as the headquarters of CCTV since 1988. The tower was once polled as one of the top 10 buildings of Beijing in the 1980s. Many most popular TV shows were made there including annual Spring Festival Gala and fantasy TV series "Journey to the West."

"We had temporary passes to enter the tower to make our TV series, even this made us feel so proud," said Ma Dehua, who played Zhu Bajie, a pig demon in the legend of "Journey to the West."

Zhang Jinlai (stage name "Liu Xiao Ling Tong"), who played "The Monkey King" Sun Wukong, attended alongside fellow actors Ma Dehua, Chi Chongrui and Liu Dagang the unveiling ceremony of the tower's miniature model and reminisced on many treasured memories.

The unveiling ceremony is part of the promotion for the venue of Little Big City Beijing which is set to open in early September. Little Big City Beijing is British company Merlin Entertainments' new attraction which will be located in Qianmen Street near the iconic Tiananmen Square, center of Beijing.

To differentiate it from other miniature attractions, Little Big City Beijing will contain miniature landmarks such as the Forbidden City, Great Wall and Temple of Heaven, as well as more than 6,000 vivid miniature mannequin residents. Various advanced, interactive and cutting-edge technologies such as hologram and projection mapping will also be employed to better allow visitors to revisit the ancient yet modern city.

Zhang Jinlai also has another wax figure of his Monkey King character in another attraction of Merlin Entertainments nearby - Madame Tussauds Beijing. He revealed the 3D movie "Journey to the West" co-produced by Paramount Pictures and three Chinese companies will start shooting this year, though the project was announced back in 2015.

"James Cameron prepared for about a decade for both the 'Titanic' and 'Avatar'. We don't have to wait that long, but you have to understand that we are working hard and trying to make it more perfect. You need to have patience to see what we will come up with," Zhang said to the fans.

Presale tickets to Little Big City Beijing is available online.

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