Chinese Rename a Peak After 'Avatar'

(Jan. 25) -- It was only last week that China pulled the 2-D version of "Avatar" from its screens, prompting speculation that Beijing was worried that the plot echoed problems facing the country. Now that speculation seems to have taken a different turn.

Today a mountain in southern China known as the Southern Sky Column was renamed after the floating "Hallelujah Mountains" featured in James Cameron's blockbuster, the Xinhua news agency reported.

The peak, in the Zhangjiajie area of southern Hunan Province, is already part of an official scenic zone. But renaming the mountain "Avatar Hallelujah Mountain" is expected to attract even more tourists.

"Avatar," set in the futuristic world of Pandora, has so far made about $80 million in China. The 3-D version is still widely available, and although fewer than 10 percent of China's 4,700 movie screens are 3-D-enabled, Chinese fans are flocking to see it.

"Tourists are welcome to the 'miracle tour to "Avatar's" Floating Mountains,' " said Song Zhiguang, director of the Yuanjiajie Scenic Spot Administration, according to Xinhua, which said a Hollywood photographer spent four days shooting in the area in 2008.

"Pandora is far, but Zhangjiajie is near," Song said.

About 25 minutes of "Avatar" were shot in the Zhangjiajie area, an official with the China International Travel Service was quoted as saying.

Not all Chinese are happy with the renaming. Xinhua quoted some people as saying that although the move might bring in more tourists, it felt "odd" to have a foreign name associated with the mountain.

"Avatar" has so far sold $1.841 billion worth of tickets worldwide. There were reports last week that the movie was headed for a limited engagement in China when it was pulled from thousands of screens because of fears that its message could cause social unrest.

Today, however, Reuters reported from Beijing that the 2-D version was actually pulled to make way for domestic productions for the upcoming Chinese New Year, a time of widespread celebration throughout Asia.