SINGAPORE: Popular Chinese film Dear You has not only made an impact at the box office, it is also driving interest in heritage travel. 

The movie, set against the backdrop of the migration of Teochew people from China to Southeast Asia in the 1940s, has inspired some Singaporeans to reconnect with their ancestral roots, according to travel agencies.

Some tour operators said enquiries for trips to certain cities in China have risen at least 15 per cent since the film began screening in Singapore last month. 

The film, which features dialogue almost entirely in the Teochew dialect, has become a box office success in China, grossing over 1.7 billion yuan (S$322 million).

The Mandarin-dubbed version premiered in Singapore on Jun 18. But strong demand for the original Teochew version has prompted the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) to approve 272 screenings so far. 

The sleeper hit, directed and co-written by Lan Hongchun, follows two timelines: a grandson who embarks on a present-day search for his long-lost grandfather in Thailand, and the grandfather's journey as a young newlywed who leaves his hometown in China for Southeast Asia in search of work. 

TOURS GAIN TRACTION

China Express Travel, a tour agency in Hong Lim Complex, said it has received around 30 per cent more queries for tours to the Chaoshan region in eastern Guangdong, where the movie was filmed. 

A six-day visit next month to Chaoshan is already fully booked, and limited spaces remain for similar packages to the region for the rest of the year. 

The tour includes visiting filming locations of Dear You and experiencing authentic Chaoshan culture such as Yingge dance, a Chinese folk dance combining martial arts and opera.

“This movie has made people reminisce and feel nostalgic. Its influence goes beyond those with roots in Chaoshan,” said Li Liang Yi, founder of China Express Travel.

Li said the film resonates with newer immigrants to Singapore, including himself. 

“Many ha...