Liangjiang International Movie City was officially approved as a national 4A scenic spot after receiving rave reviews from visitors during its first year of operation, according to Chongqing Municipal Tourism Bureau on Dec 25.

Located at Longxing Industrial Park in Liangjiang New Area, the 120,000-square-meter model city is similar to movie sets at Heng Dian Studios in Zhejiang, a unique tourist attraction, where films are shot.

Liangjiang International Movie City is located at Longxing Industrial Park in Liangjiang New Area. [Photo/liangjiang.gov.cn]

The movie city features a replica of six Chongqing main street blocks from the 1930s containing over 220 historical buildings, as well as riverside neighborhoods featuring wooden houses and docks from the era, and sections of the city's ancient walls.

The movie city has been the hottest ticket in China this year, with an incredible four million people streaming through its gates in the 70 days since it opened on January 1.

The river runs across the Liangjiang International Movie City. [Photo by Tan Yingzi/China Daily]

Statistics revealed that more than 500,000 tourists travelled through Liangjiang International Movie City over this year's National Day holiday week.

Until the end of November, Chongqing had a total of 220 national scenic spots, including eight 5A-rating scenic spots and 79 4A-rating spots. The city strives to build more than 120 4A-rating scenic spots by 2020.

Tourists gather to watch an acrobatics show on the streets of Liangjiang International Moive City during the National Day holiday. [Photo/liangjiang.gov.cn]