[Photo provided to China Daily]

Although La La Land is his first film to be widely screened in China, Gosling has already become a heartthrob to numerous Chinese women, who've nicknamed him Gao Siling (Commander Gao), which sounds similar to the English pronunciation.

Landscapes in Los Angeles, from pavements to freeways, inspired Chazelle to invite his university roommate, the composer Justin Hurwitz, to create the screenplay in 2010.

But the beginning was tough. In an era dominated by superheroes and digital effects-studded action, few investors believed a musical would become a commercial hit.

"It had been difficult during the past several years. Just like the characters in the film, we've asked ourselves many times: 'Is that a delusion? Are we naive, or wasting our time?'" says Chazelle.

Thanks to his 2014 film Whiplash, which won three Academy Awards in 2015, Chazelle became a more convincing name to producers.

He organized a three-month rehearsal for the cast to dance and sing, and blocked a section of a freeway in Los Angeles as a filming set for two days. Gosling trained in piano for nearly four months.

Chinese have just joined the global enthusiasm over La La Land.