A scene from the TV drama Minguo Detective, which was filmed in Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/hz66.com]

Huzhou in East China's Zhejiang province has emerged as one of the most popular filming venues for TV drama and variety shows in China in recent years.

Minguo Detective, a mystery drama with more than 95 percent of its scenes filmed in the Huzhou Film and Television City, became hugely popular among viewers after it was broadcasted on video platform iQiyi on Aug 10.

Adapted from Agatha Christie's Poirot, the drama stars famous Chinese actors Hu Yitian, Zhang Yunlong, Zhang Xinyu.

Wu Xingguang, the show's art director, said the Huzhou Film and Television City has a wide selection of architectures from Shanghai and Eastern Europe.

Minguo Detective is among a large number of TV series filmed in Huzhou.

On Aug 1, People by the Canal, a TV series with more than 90 percent of its scenes filmed in Huzhou, was aired on Channel 1 of the China Central Television and video platforms including Youku, Tencent, iQiyi and Mango TV.

Director Pan Jingcheng said Huzhou's commitment to preserving local culture and ecology left a deep impression on him, and that this is reflected in the theme of the drama.

Apart from TV drama, variety shows including Poetry and Distance's season III, Have Fun's season II and The Voice of China in 2022 have also been filmed in Huzhou.

In one episode of Have Fun, Lin Yun, an actress born in Huzhou, welcomed people to visit Huzhou and recommended some renowned dishes such as Ding Lianfang Qianzhangbao and Zhoushengji wonton.

Ding Lianfang Qianzhangbao, shaped like a long pillow, is made by wrapping minced pork in bean curd sheets. Zhoushengji is a type of wonton served at Zhoushengji, a restaurant in Huzhou with 90 years of history.