Actor Ji Ta and actress Cao Xinyue (left) of the film Road of Hope.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

“To shoot the film has also expanded my knowledge of the battle against poverty. I hope more audiences will see the effort and achievement of the people in Minning through this film,” says Dong.

The film is also one of the nine productions highlighted by the China Film Administration, the country’s top regulator of the sector, to mark the 40th anniversary of the launch of reform and opening-up policy.