The Murmansk Region has become one of the main filming locations for the wildly popular Chinese reality show about family values, "Viva la Romance." The first episode of the multi-part series premiered in China today, and will be seen by approximately half a billion viewers worldwide.
This joint project between the international channel RT and media giant Mango TV introduces Chinese superstars of culture, television, and sports to the world's most famous cities in China. In Russia, these cities include Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Murmansk.
The Murmansk Region is among the most popular and sought-after destinations for Chinese travelers, remaining a winter wonderland for guests from China.
Filming took place in mid-March with the support of the Ministry of Tourism and Entrepreneurship of the Murmansk Region. Over the course of several days, the show's characters explored life in the Arctic capital and the legendary Teriberka: they experienced ice floating, rode a husky sled, sampled Arctic cuisine, and saw the Northern Lights on the coast of the Barents Sea.
The "Viva la Romance" project has a combined audience of approximately 500 million viewers in China and other Chinese-speaking countries. The project, which has been running since 2018, has previously filmed both in China and around the world. In 2026, the film crew visited Russia for the first time.
We anticipate a new influx of guests from China to the Murmansk region this coming winter. Because we live where others dream of visiting.
/ Ministry of Tourism and Entrepreneurship of the Murmansk Region /
