Jinghai in The Knockout Doesn't Exist, But Jiangmen in Reality Wins All Hearts!

Recently, "The Knockout" has completely dominated public discourse. Beyond the series itself, another noteworthy phenomenon is that Jiangmen, a small city in Guangdong and the primary filming location, has finally seized this rare opportunity to step into the spotlight.

The arcade buildings of Jiangmen in "The Knockout."

Source / Excerpt from "The Knockout"

It’s worth noting that even within Guangdong Province, Jiangmen has always been an understated city, deeply embodying the "doctrine of the mean." Objectively speaking, its geographical location is neither exceptionally advantageous nor particularly poor; its economy is neither top-tier nor lagging; the city lacks world-famous landmarks but is nonetheless refined, beautiful, and rich in heritage. Most remarkably, the city exudes a strong Cantonese charm—gentle, leisurely, and resilient, capable of withstanding the test of time. Even without the boost from "The Knockout," it would still be a livable, travel-worthy coastal gem.

The success of "The Knockout" undoubtedly lies in its abundance of polished, vivid details. Jiangmen, in turn, contributed richly to the series with its authentic, vibrant depictions of everyday life.

Particularly, lead actor Zhang Songwen, a native Cantonese, fit seamlessly into Jiangmen’s urban backdrop. Riding his Haojue scooter through the city’s markets, alleys, restaurants, and even its mountains and seas, he even knew to reserve a separate tank for脆肉魭 (a type of fish). Occasionally slipping into Cantonese or a local expression, he often pulled viewers momentarily away from the main plot, immersing them in the leisurely rhythm of a quintessential small Cantonese city.

Watching "The Knockout," it’s hard not to notice those peculiar buildings, densely packed and adorned with both the marks of time and an abundance of retro European elements.

The extraordinary Diaolou (watchtowers) of Jinjiangli in Kaiping, Jiangmen, with Ruishi Lou standing out.

Especially in the farewell scene between brothers Gao Qisheng and Gao Qiqiang, didn’t the setting feel eerily familiar? That’s right—the location, "Mei Family Compound" in Taishan, Jiangmen, was also the "Goose City" in "Let the Bullets Fly." One can’t help but marvel: a hundred years later, why are the bullets still flying here?

Both "Let the Bullets Fly" and "The Knockout" prominently featured Mei Family Compound.

Source / Excerpts from "The Knockout" and "Let the Bullets Fly"

To understand the origins of these unique buildings, we need to briefly revisit Jiangmen’s urban development.

The area now known as the prefecture-level city of Jiangmen was historically governed by four counties: Xinhui, Taishan, Kaiping, and Enping. These counties shared similar dialects and customs, earning them the collective name "Siyi" (Four Counties). Later, with the addition of Heshan County, they became "Wuyi" (Five Counties). Even today, "Wuyi" resonates more strongly with locals, as the Cantonese pronunciation of "Jiangmen" is, to put it mildly, awkward.

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, due to poverty, frequent natural disasters, and rampant banditry, many Siyi residents ventured overseas. Unlike other coastal Chinese diaspora communities with strong ties to Southeast Asia, the Siyi people often crossed half the globe, settling in the Americas. To this day, "Siyi" and "Wuyi" remain well-known names overseas, particularly Taishan, hailed by Premier Zhou Enlai as "China’s No. 1 Hometown of Overseas Chinese." It’s rare to find a Taishan native without relatives in the U.S.

By the late Qing dynasty, as global circumstances shifted, overseas Chinese began returning home, bringing with them wealth, new architectural ideas, and even complete blueprints. Thus, a wealth of distinctive buildings emerged across Jiangmen.

Among these, the nearly 2,000 Diaolou scattered across Kaiping’s countryside stand out. These "Chinese castles," designed to withstand both disasters and bandits, were, in Chow Yun-fat’s words from "Let the Bullets Fly," "impregnable." Beyond their practicality, these towers blend Chinese and Western styles—incorporating ancient Greek, Roman, and even Islamic elements alongside Cantonese residential traditions—creating a striking fusion that earned them Guangdong’s first UNESCO World Heritage status.

As for Mei Family Compound, featured in both "The Knockout" and "Let the Bullets Fly," locals more accurately call it a "Qiaoxu" (Overseas Chinese Market). It was a commercial-residential complex funded by returned overseas Chinese, akin to today’s mixed-use developments. Residents formed a semi-enclosed, semi-open plaza-style community. Since the majority shareholders were surnamed Mei, it became known as Mei Family Compound, though the reality of its architecture and community is far more complex than the name suggests.

Figures 1-2: Mei Family Compound in Duanfen Town.

Beyond the Diaolou and Qiaoxu scattered across the region, Jiangmen, like many southeastern coastal cities, boasts extensive arcade buildings, often visible in "The Knockout’s" background.

Jiangmen’s arcades are mainly concentrated in its urban center, historically a small town under Xinhui County. Thanks to its strategic location along the West River, it thrived as a bustling market as early as the late Yuan dynasty. By modern times, it had grown into a key trade hub in the Pearl River Delta, distributing goods from the middle and lower West River. In the early 20th century, with Jiangmen’s port opening, this town naturally became the most vibrant and prosperous spot in Wuyi.

Jiangmen's Pengjiang District is what is now narrowly referred to as the urban area of Jiangmen.

In the last century, returning overseas Chinese not only built rows of beautiful arcade buildings in the urban area of Jiangmen but also established numerous factories there. This ensured that Jiangmen's industry has long held a significant position in Guangdong Province. Against this backdrop, after its designation as a city, Jiangmen Town became the new urban center, while the ancient "Siyi" region—especially Xinhui County, which had long served as the regional hub—became a supporting element of the new city.

Whether intentional or coincidental, in *The Knockout*, Gao Qiqiang's rise to power begins in Old Factory Street, a declining industrial community. The parents of the residents were once colleagues working together in the factories. Though the factories later disappeared, the former coworkers remained neighbors. This unique cohesion gave Gao Qiqiang's original crew the strength to rival the violent gangs dominated by clan forces in Mang Village. A crime drama thus effortlessly highlights two typical community dynamics within a city—nothing short of brilliance.

The night view of the arcade buildings in Jiangmen.

Photo / Tuchong Creative · Photographer / Niangua丶

In *The Knockout*, Jinghai is depicted as a city nestled between mountains and rivers, with a pleasant environment. Meng Dehai, a character in the show, loves hiking, and many crucial dialogues take place in mountain pavilions. Interestingly, this mirrors the real lifestyle of Jiangmen locals.

The name "Jiangmen" (literally "River Gate") originates from the two mountains—Yandun Mountain on the south bank and Penglai Mountain on the north bank—facing each other like a gate. Jiangmen's mountains, with their gentle slopes and scenic beauty, have long made hiking a collective habit among residents. These mountains, along with expansive parks, rivers running through the city, and a long coastline, contribute to Jiangmen's exceptional urban natural landscape.

Lingyun Tower in Chakeng Village, Xinhui, Jiangmen.

A direct testament to Jiangmen's excellent ecological environment is that, for a long time, its most famous tourist attraction was "Birds' Paradise"—a massive banyan tree growing on a mud mound in a river, home to countless egrets. Locals call it "Que Dun" (Bird Mound). In 1933, writer Ba Jin visited and wrote *Birds' Paradise*, later included in elementary school textbooks, which brought nationwide fame to the site.

The superb natural ecology also provides the backdrop for Jiangmen's leisurely and comfortable daily life. In fact, *The Knockout* features numerous authentic elements of local Jiangmen life, especially its street food. From a lavish Lunar New Year's "poon choi" in the village to a steaming bowl of pig trotter noodles; from an elaborate dim sum breakfast to a solitary late-night hotpot meal—the show realistically captures the vibrant local flavor, making viewers crave a plate of wok-fried beef hor fun from a street-side stall the moment they turn off the TV.

Observant viewers may notice that in Gao Qiqiang's conversations with "Godfather" Tai Shu (played by Ni Dahong), dried tangerine peel (chenpi) is frequently mentioned. This is no accident, as nothing is more iconic of Jiangmen's local specialties than chenpi.

Source / Excerpt from *The Knockout*

The importance of chenpi to Cantonese people cannot be overstated. Whether used in soups, dishes, desserts, or medicine, a small piece of chenpi can instantly dissolve any greasiness into the fragrance of citrus. Jiangmen—especially Xinhui—is renowned for producing the finest chenpi. In Xinhui, chenpi is deeply embedded in local culture. Every autumn, households sun-dry tangerine peels, turning the city into a golden spectacle. Even Heytea, which originated in Jiangmen, offers a regional-exclusive "Chenpi Special Drink" there.

Fig 1: Chenpi-infused Pu'er tea. Photo / Visual China

Fig 2: Chenpi Duck. Photo / Tuchong Creative · Photographer / Tao Tao unconsciously

Beyond chenpi, Jiangmen is also a mecca for goose dishes in Guangdong. As the province's second-largest goose producer, Jiangmen offers diverse cooking methods, with white-cut goose best showcasing locals' confidence in their culinary skills. The most famous goose dish is undoubtedly Gujing roast goose. Its skin is richly glazed yet fragrant, roasted with unique lychee wood for a crispy, glossy texture and tender, sweet meat—rivaling the nationally popular "deep-well roast goose."

In fact, each of Jiangmen's "Five Counties" boasts endless delicacies. In Taishan, for instance, eel rice is a standout—a claypot rice topped with bouncy, flavorful eel that's irresistibly delicious. Taishan also abounds in small seafood. Mud worm salty tangyuan (glutinous rice balls), featuring incredibly fresh mud worms (called "sand worms" in Fujian, used in "tusun jelly"), paired with tiny oysters packed with umami, deliver an unparalleled burst of sweetness—a pinnacle of Chinese coastal cuisine.

Photo / Tuchong Creative · Photographer / _Rabbit Jun

So, if *The Knockout* leaves you wanting more, consider visiting Jiangmen. While there are no all-powerful crime syndicates, you'll find endless affordable delicacies and the relaxed, idyllic Cantonese slow life that makes it hard to leave.

Thirty-Three Market Street, the origin of Jiangmen's ancient marketplaces.

Photo/Tuchong Creative · Photography/Yu Chi_yu

Cover Image | Still from "The Knockout"

Featured Image | Still from "The Knockout"