China gets its own movie theme park

If it's true you can judge a man by the company he keeps, then Feng Xiaogang must be doing very well indeed.

The man often described as the mainland box office king has for the past hour or so been seated in the middle of a theatre as a 30-minute show reel plays to a crowd of about 1,000, taking us through the highlights of the 56-year-old filmmaker's career. There are clips from Lunar New Year comedies such as The Dream Factory (1997) that first brought Feng fame and also the blockbusters, such as Aftershock (2010), that he has turned his attention to as his interests expand, along with those of the mainland audience itself.

In a further reflection of Feng's stature, when he takes to the stage - and takes in the applause - his broad smile is beaming down on a crowd that is split equally between political heavyweights, business leaders and A-list celebrities.

"For the past 20 years I have been following my dreams," Feng says to the gathering. "And it's you who enable me to make films."

But these days he is doing more than that - and that's why we've been joined here just outside the city of Haikou by the likes of Wang Lu, vice-governor of Hainan province, who's seated along from Ken Chu Ting-kin, chairman and CEO of the Mission Hills Group which has been developing the land nearby. Not far away from that pair sits Ge You, acclaimed star of many of Feng's films, while the Hong Kong acting community is represented by, among others, Jackie Chan, Andy Lau Tak-wah and Miriam Yeung Chin-wah.

On June 7, Feng cut the ribbon on his latest venture as the first stage of the Movie Town theme park was officially opened to the public. It is part of a complex that will eventually feature three streets that recreate the sets used in some of his biggest hits, as well as four massive film studios and a collection of boutique hotels.

The project is set to cost US$300 million and is being developed through a partnership between the filmmaker, the Mission Hills Group - owners of the sprawling 10-course golf complex next door - and one of the mainland's most successful film studios, Huayi Brothers.

The public relations puff says the aim is to attract about five million visitors a year and the property is one of a number of projects being fully supported by the local government as it seeks to expand Hainan's attractions.