Film buffs in China are wringing their hands in glee as September 22nd saw the Wanda Group launch their much-anticipated movie studio in Qingdao. The opening of the Oriental Movie Metropolis was attended by A-listers from Hollywood and China.

The opening of the Oriental Movie Metropolis was attended by A-listers from Hollywood and China.

After an investment of a cool 50 billion Yuan and spreading across a sprawling 5.4 million square meters, the Qingdao Oriental Movie Metropolis is catching the attention of the world.

Hollywood actors and filmmakers including Leonardo DiCaprio, Nicole Kidman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, as well as Chinese film stars Zhang Ziyi, Jet Li, and Tony Leung, attended the red carpet opening ceremony.

Celebrities expressed their best wishes for the project in their own way.

Catherine Zeta-Jones made her first public appearance after separating from Michael Douglas, but she interacted actively with her Chinese fans and expressed her opinions for this vision and project.

Leonardo DiCaprio expressed his regret at not being able to come to China for the promotion of The Great Gatsby, but was glad that he made it to Qingdao, and even expressed his desire to appear in a film in China one day.

And American actor John Travolta flew his son and daughter to Qingdao.

Wangda, the new owners of the AMC cinema chain, have built up good relations with Hollywood filmmaking companies and agencies since then.

"The film industry in China has just started and has a bright future. I believe if Western film and entertainment industries can make use of the rapidly developing Chinese market, it will be beneficial for both sides. That's why so many stars like to come to China nowadays. It's quite a difference from previous years," said Wang Jianlin, President of Wanda Group.

Wang Jianlin has high hopes that Wanda can be the first company in the world to have a big-scale production base as well as screening and distribution channels.

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