The Qingdao Oriental Movie Metropolis. [Photo/qing5.com]

Qingdao is poised to become the "Oriental Hollywood" as the city is home to the world's largest film studio, the $8.2 billion Oriental Movie Metropolis, built along the city's West Coast New Area, which combines film and television production with a theme park.

The scenic West Coast New Area of Qingdao. [Photo/qing5.com]

The modern metropolis, blessed with mountains and sea and dotted with red roofs and green trees against the blue sea and sky, has made great contributions to China's filmmaking industry over the past century. Many old Chinese movies were filmed there.

The Qingdao Seamen's Club, built in 1902, is the home to the first-ever cinema in China.

Hailed as a "natural studio", the city welcomes more than 200 film crews every year. It's also the cradle of movie stars. Gold-plated celebrities from Qingdao include Tang Guoqiang, Huang Bo, Fan Bingbing, Huang Xiaoming and Chen Hao.

Red-tile roofs amid the green trees are Iconic landmarks of the city. [Photo/qing5.com]

The Qingdao government recently released preferential policies on film and TV production, a loan-related risk compensation mechanism for the industry, and facilitated IPO financing for film and TV program producers.

In consideration of the city's natural environment, history, talents and its promising film industry, the Qingdao government put forward the idea of applying to become a Film City in 2015, in a bid to enhance the city's creative potential for sustainable urban development through exchanging know-how and cooperating on an international level.

In accordance with UNESCO's procedures, applications for creative cities will be closed on June 16. The appraisal and selection process will start in August and results will be announced on October 31.

Good Luck, Qingdao!