At a press conference promoting his new film "A Legend," kung fu megastar Jackie Chan expressed his pride and happiness in contributing to retrieving China's national treasures scattered around the world.

Jackie Chan speaks at a press conference for "A Legend" in Beijing, June 25, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Bona Film Group]

"I always see China's cultural relics in museums abroad, so I raised this question in my film 'The Myth': Why are our cultural relics in their possession? They say it's for safekeeping, but isn't it actually plunder? Since they are ours, they should be returned to us," Chan said.

He recalled making the film "CZ12" (2012), in which his character leads a team to recover artifacts taken from the Old Summer Palace, specifically the bronze heads of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals looted in the 1800s. "After the film debuted, two of these heads were actually returned!" Chan said, hinting that his film perhaps played a part. The bronze rat and rabbit heads were returned to China in 2013.

"At that time, I felt there were two reasons for their return: one is that our country has become powerful, and the second is possibly due to the influence of my movie. We filmmakers should convey messages to the world. If making movies allows me to contribute to the preservation of Chinese culture and the protection of Chinese national treasures, then I feel very happy," he said.

Chan's new film "A Legend" directed by Stanley Tong, also features a captivating plotline about him searching for and retrieving national treasures.

The sister film to the 2005 hit "The Myth" will debut in cinemas across China on July 12, with advanced screenings starting on July 5. In this new installment with some nostalgic elements, Chan plays an archaeologist who uncovers a powerful jade artifact. This discovery propels him and his assistant, played by pop star and actor Lay Zhang, back to the tumultuous Western Han dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 24). During their journey, they meet a beautiful princess from the nomadic Xiongnu tribes, which sets the stage for their own legendary tale.

A standout feature of the film is the use of AI technology to depict a 27-year-old version of Chan as an ancient Chinese general. But Chan, 70, laughed, saying he cannot be young again: "The magic of cinema can bring me back to youth, and that's good, but I like what I am now. I'm happy I'm old."

Cast and crew of "A Legend" pose for a photo at a press conference promoting the movie in Beijing, June 25, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Bona Film Group]

Beyond embracing cutting-edge technology, the film features breathtaking shots of ancient battlefields and vast cavalry charges, utilizing over 1,300 men and 10,000 horses. These epic scenes were filmed on location in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, eschewing CGI to create a more realistic portrayal. 

"It is my first time going back to my hometown to make such a big-budget film starring Jackie Chan, and my father is a big fan of Chan, so I feel so proud!" said Uygur actress Gulnezer Bextiyar, who plays the princess in the film. "I hope through this film, more people can see the beauty and charm of our Xinjiang."

Yu Dong, founder and chairman of Bona Film Group, thanked the great support from local partners and government in Xinjiang, and recalled "The Myth" made history 19 years ago when it was China's first blockbuster to pass the 100 million yuan mark despite the relatively low movie ticket prices. "Now, 'The Legend' will also bring a richer viewing experience to audiences nationwide during the summer season," he promised. 

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