Since The Lord of the Rings duology was released last year and this year, it has brought about an expected yet surprising phenomenon.
Over the past two years, the number of tourists traveling to China has surged dramatically—two to three times more than before—reaching hundreds of thousands annually.
This has generated significant revenue for various regions in China, with the direct and indirect economic value created amounting to at least several billion dollars.
More importantly, through carefully arranged tourism promotions, many Westerners have dispelled their misunderstandings about China. Some have even developed a deep fascination with Chinese history and culture.
Of course, for most visitors, this cultural interest is secondary. Their primary reason for coming is The Lord of the Rings.
As a result, Jiuzhaigou, Mount Gazi (the filming location of Minas Tirith), the Xilingol Grasslands, Baihua Valley's Hobbiton at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and Zhangjiajie have all become immensely popular tourist destinations.
Jiuzhaigou, in particular—previously unknown to most foreigners—has garnered international attention. The renowned British travel writer and photographer Julian Barnes captured its breathtaking scenery through his lens.
These stunning photographs were later published in National Geographic UK, revealing to the world that such a beautiful place truly exists.
Countless other pictures and travel documentaries have also contributed to this phenomenon, creating a positive cycle that continues to attract waves of new visitors.
Technically, the West could suppress this sudden enthusiasm for China by silencing the media and censoring online discussions. If that happened, China's magnificent landscapes would gradually fade into obscurity again.
However, the West has chosen not to do so—partly because The Lord of the Rings has become an undeniable cultural force, even gaining a substantial fan base within China.
This is a prime example of a successful and highly effective cultural export.
Additionally, there are certain political reasons behind this situation—ones that cannot be openly discussed.
Gilbert arrived in Beijing from Los Angeles, accompanied by Christopher Nolan and producer Tils, who would be overseeing Jackie Chan's Adventures.
To be honest, this type of film wasn't exactly Nolan's favorite.
He preferred writing his own scripts, playing with time-based narratives, and directing complex, mind-bending films that challenged audiences.
However, compared to many independent filmmakers struggling to break into the mainstream industry, Nolan had one crucial advantage—he understood the importance of opportunity.
In other words, while he had the artistic sensibilities of an indie auteur, he leaned more toward commercial filmmaking.
He knew that if he wanted the freedom to make films his way, he first had to earn the trust of major studios.
And the best way to gain that trust was to direct a couple of blockbuster hits and accumulate enough influence.
For Nolan, Gilbert was the perfect role model. Step by step, Gilbert had built his credibility with studios to the point where he could now make whatever he wanted without question.
Although Insomnia was still in post-production, Nolan took time off to fly to China with Gilbert for the casting process.
It was Nolan's first time in China. Standing before the grandeur of the Forbidden City and climbing the Great Wall at Badaling, he was truly immersed in the country's breathtaking scenery.
"I get it now," Nolan said. "I understand why you chose to shoot here."
"Oh?" Gilbert raised an eyebrow. "Go on, tell me—why did I pick this place?"
Pointing at the endless mountain ranges beyond the Great Wall, Nolan said, "Look at these rolling mountains. They stretch like giant dragons, lying across the land.
This place is vast and all-encompassing.
I think Jackie Chan's Adventures would look incredible if filmed here."
Chinese dragons are quite different from their Western counterparts. Whether Nolan fully grasped this distinction was unclear.
Gilbert burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Chris, Old Tian would love to hear that. If you ever want to film here, just call him—he'll take care of everything for you."
Due to their tight schedule, Gilbert and Nolan only explored the areas around Beijing and didn't have time to visit other locations.
While sightseeing, they remained focused on the casting process.
Several assistant directors were already conducting preliminary auditions, selecting suitable actors based on Gilbert's criteria and preparing for the final round of screen tests.
In Beijing, Gilbert stayed at his own siheyuan (traditional courtyard house), while Nolan checked into the Chang Fu Chun Hotel in the Guomao district, where the auditions were being held.
These days, the Chang Fu Chun Hotel was buzzing with celebrities.
Anyone familiar with the entertainment industry would recognize the many familiar faces from TV dramas and films constantly coming and going.
Additionally, numerous parents were bringing their children, holding copies of the script in their hands.
The people staying at the Chang Fu Chun Hotel were generally well-off—often business executives from across the country visiting Beijing for deals, sometimes accompanied by their secretaries.
Curious about the commotion, one hotel guest asked a staff member, "Why is there such a big production happening here? Is someone famous arriving?"
The employee replied, "Christopher Nolan, the renowned Hollywood director, is staying here. He's holding auditions, and all these stars are here to try out for roles."
"Oh!" The boss seemed to understand a bit about movies and asked, "Between Christopher Nolan and Director Gilbert, who is more famous?"
"Of course, Director Gilbert is more famous. He came along with Nolan."
The boss was immediately intrigued. "Can you arrange a meeting with Director Gilbert for me? My son loves his movies. I'd like to get an autograph and a photo."
The employee shook his head. "Director Gilbert is not staying at the hotel."
At this moment, the boss's assistant reminded him, "Boss, Director Gilbert bought a siheyuan (traditional courtyard house) in Beijing. When he comes to the capital, he usually stays there."
"Whoa!" The boss was surprised to learn that Gilbert had a home in Beijing.
The Hollywood crew's casting process in China piqued the interest of many people.
While staying in the siheyuan, Gilbert received numerous visitors every day, with some even sending invitations, hoping he would attend their events.
Gilbert declined most of these invitations, only choosing to attend a few significant ones.
Perhaps because of his unique status, there were no absurd scenes like those where even Stephen Hawking had to stand up and toast someone.
After all, the people Gilbert met during these days were high-ranking officials. They wouldn't be so short-sighted—these were smart people.
In addition, some of the privileged young men of Beijing also visited him, along with individuals from so-called elite social circles.
"Here, try this—mung bean soup. It helps with thirst and heat relief."
In the courtyard, Gilbert served a bowl of mung bean soup to Nolan.
It was the tail end of summer, and Beijing was still quite hot. So Gilbert had prepared chilled mung bean soup for Nolan, who had never tried it before.
Nolan looked at the unassuming bowl of soup and hesitated to drink it. However, since Gilbert was offering it with goodwill, he frowned slightly and took a sip.
As soon as he tasted it, the frown on his face disappeared. The sweet flavor, combined with the chill from the ice cubes, instantly washed away the summer heat.
Nolan's eyes lit up. "This is actually quite good! It's a great drink."
"Right?" Gilbert looked slightly smug. "With ice and sugar, it's quite tasty. This is an authentic old Beijing flavor."
This kind of day was perfect—lounging under the grape trellis, waving a fan, sipping mung bean soup, and nibbling on snacks while reclining in a chair.
It felt like early retirement—enjoying life.
But while Gilbert wanted to relax, things didn't go as he wished. The flow of visitors didn't stop, and it was starting to annoy him.
Although he refused most of them, there were some he simply couldn't turn away.
In a way, this was his own version of the Stephen Hawking toasting incident.
However, today's visitors were different. Even though Gilbert had not agreed to meet them, they still showed up.
Since they had already come all this way and were waiting outside, Gilbert felt he couldn't ignore them entirely, so he reluctantly agreed to see them.
"Director Gilbert, nice to meet you. My last name is Wang. My father visited you two days ago—you met him."
The man leading the group was around the same age as Gilbert and seemed very polite.
Gilbert recalled for a moment and then nodded, "You mean Minister Wang? He knew I liked Chinese poetry and even gave me a copy of Three Hundred Tang and Song Poems."
So this was Old Wang's son—Young Wang.
Young Wang remained respectful. "Director Gilbert, we're all your fans. We came to see you today mainly because we admire you…"
Before he could finish, Gilbert interrupted, "No need for flattery. There aren't that many fans visiting me every day—especially people like you."
The privileged sons of Beijing looked slightly embarrassed, but they were thick-skinned and didn't seem to mind too much.
They exchanged glances, and Young Wang continued, "I heard you're selecting actors and holding auditions. I'm quite familiar with these actors and was wondering if I could help."
"Help? How?"
Young Wang immediately pulled out a stack of photos and handed them to Gilbert with both hands. "We know you're picking the right actors. These are pre-selected candidates. See if any of them fit your criteria."
Gilbert narrowed his eyes and glanced at them sideways. "Isn't there an audition? You can submit their names there."
Young Wang realized that Gilbert hadn't caught his meaning, so he sighed internally—this foreigner was really dense.
So he made it even clearer. "Director Gilbert, what I mean is, auditions are usually just a formality. You won't find better actors than these. The best ones are right here—you can just pick from them."
"Oh!" Gilbert feigned sudden realization. Of course, he had already figured out their intent.
So, they wanted to pre-determine the casting?
These people were truly foolish.
Who did they think they were?
Did they really believe they could decide everything?
Back in his past life, Gilbert had already suffered enough under the control of capitalists, unable to select the actors he truly wanted or make the movies he envisioned.
Now, in this new world, with even greater status and power, they still thought they could manipulate him?
Absolutely not.
Gilbert knew about the so-called elite social circles of the Chinese entertainment industry. But in his past life, by the time he was active, the internet and financial capital had already shattered these circles.
He felt no awe toward these so-called elites.
Even Minister Wang had treated him with respect—so what made Young Wang think he could dictate terms?
What? Did they assume he'd follow their outdated customs?
Gilbert didn't even touch the photos or the list. He simply waved them off. "Sorry, I'm not interested in your recommendations. If it weren't for the auditions, I wouldn't be here at all. Please leave."
Young Wang's face stiffened—he hadn't expected this foreigner to be so blunt.
Still, he kept his composure. "Are you sure? They are all excellent."
"Hmph, this isn't about selecting a concubine. We are casting actors through proper procedures."
With that, Gilbert turned away, signaling that he had nothing more to say.
Two bodyguards stepped in front of Young Wang's group, forcing them to leave.
Outside, one of the younger men fumed, "Wang, did you see how arrogant that foreigner was? He didn't give us any respect!"
"Well, of course, he doesn't need to. He's a world-class director and a foreign guest." Another person's tone was sarcastic.
Someone suggested, "Should we make some trouble for him? No one refuses Wang in Beijing!"
Young Wang shot him a glare. "Don't be reckless. He's not someone we can afford to offend. Stay out of trouble."
Though they were still angry, they had no choice but to let it go.
Young Wang was right—if they caused problems, it could escalate into a diplomatic issue.
Even though they were from influential families, crossing that line would bring punishment from their own elders.
What Young Wang didn't know was that Gilbert was already furious.
In his past life, he had struggled against corporate interference. Now, they wanted to control him again?
Unacceptable.
Gilbert turned to his assistant and instructed, "Call Minister Wang. Tell him what his son did."
The assistant immediately contacted Minister Wang.
That evening, Young Wang returned home, only to be met by his enraged father wielding a feather duster.
Minister Wang didn't hold back—Young Wang howled in pain.
"Dad, why are you hitting me?"
"You deserve worse! Do you even know what you've done? You barged into his house, tried to influence him, and even threatened him?"
"I didn't threaten him! I was just trying to help…"
"Help? You were forcing him! Do you know who he is? He's a state guest. The government is even considering giving him a set of national porcelain as a gift! Do you understand how important he is?"
Young Wang fell silent, realizing how badly he had messed up.
Minister Wang sighed, "Clearly, we've spoiled you too much. From now on, stay home. You're grounded until Gilbert leaves China."
This incident with Xiao Wang was just a small episode. Gilbert quickly put it behind him. His trip to China was not just for the auditions—otherwise, he would have let Nolan come by himself.
The main reason was that he had been invited to a banquet at the Great Hall in a few days, where many top-level figures were expected to attend.
Additionally, according to what Old Tian had revealed, Gilbert might receive a set of state gift porcelain. This was a significant honor, at least for Gilbert.
It meant that he had gained recognition here, and his influence could extend into this land.
A few days later, Gilbert attended the banquet at the Great Hall, meeting many top figures and even having a ten-minute conversation with the highest-ranking leader.
Unfortunately, he did not receive the state gift porcelain. Perhaps he was still missing some qualifications.
After this banquet, the true battlefield unfolded—the fierce competition in the auditions.
This audition was like a warzone, and Gilbert found himself in the midst of it.
However, this time, he was the judge, and only his decision would determine the final winners.
Because of this, figuring out how to win Gilbert's favor became crucial.
As a result, those who had interacted with Gilbert before—such as Xu Qing, International Zhang, and a few Chinese directors involved in the auditions—became the prime targets for flattery among the competing actresses.
....
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