China’s critically acclaimed heartwarming film A Letter to Grandma has officially arrived in cinemas across Malaysia. To mark the film’s release, China Southern Airlines organized a special screening at GSC Cinema in All Seasons Place, Penang, inviting government representatives, officials from the Consulate General of China in Penang, tourism industry players, business leaders, and primary and secondary school students to enjoy this touching production together.
Penang State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy, YB Wong Hon Wai, was also invited to attend and deliver the opening remarks at the screening. Also present at the screening was Fang Xiujing, General Manager of China Southern Airlines’ Penang Office; Zhou Youbin, Consul General of China in Penang and Yeoh Soon Hin, Vice Chairman of Tourism Malaysia, Ms Carolyn Leong Penang MATTA Chairlady among others.
“Since its release in early May, A Letter to Grandma has received increasingly positive reviews and has achieved an impressive rating of 9.2 on Douban, making it a recent ‘phenomenal’ dark horse in the Chinese-language film industry. This film, centered on the Teochew dialect and Qiaopi (letters and remittance receipts sent by overseas Chinese), tells the story of emotional bonds among Chinese families who migrated to Southeast Asia many years ago. Likewise, China Southern Airlines and Penang share a lasting emotional connection that has endured across mountains and seas. As early as 35 years ago, on 3 April 1991, China Southern Airlines officially launched its direct Guangzhou–Penang route, opening an important chapter in people-to-people exchanges, trade, and cultural interaction between Penang and Guangdong. At the time, this route was Penang’s only direct air link to China, making it highly significant to the state.” said Wong.
He also added that since flights resumed after the pandemic in March 2023, China Southern Airlines has operated 3,515 round-trip direct flights between Guangzhou and Penang over the three years up to March 2026, carrying approximately 540,000 passengers and generating more than RM300 million in economic benefits for Penang.
Before the film screening began, Wong also shared with the audience how Penang, once one of the major gathering points for Chinese migrants heading to Nanyang (Southeast Asia), maintains countless connections with China.