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| duration=1213:30 00 <ref name= "D23"> https://d23.com/a-to-z/reflections-of-china-film/ </ref>

|custom_value_3= 1,000,000 <ref name= "times"/>(Wonders of China)

In When Imagineers initially conceived the late 1970sChina pavilion, with most plans for what would eventually become Reflections of the planning China originally called for World Showcase completethe film to be shown on a standard theater screen <ref name= "Martin2"> http://www.martinsvids.net/ </ref>. Subsequently, however, Disney approached the Peopleattraction was developed into a CircleVision 360 film. In order to create the attraction, a 's Republic of 'MacGillivray Freeman Films'' crew led by director Jeff Blyth traveled to China about creating to film a travelogue video for the China pavilion style movie <ref name= "Jack"> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/walt_disney_world/theme_parks/epcot/china/ </ref>. Although interestedInitially, the Chinese government was concerned about giving Westerners permission to film interested in partnering with Disney, but was uncomfortable with Western crews filming their country. In fact, China originally insisted that all Because of Disney’s filming be strictly supervisedthis, and they refused to let Imagineers take aerial shots at the outset, the government put strict restrictions of Tibet or Disney's film crew, including making the Great Wall <ref name= "Jack"/>. Disney was uncomfortable with this agreement, and after showing Chinese officials the movie Fantasia, they were able to acquire more freedom<ref name= "Jack"/>Tibet off limits.

After two months of scoutingAs Disney and China continued to negotiate over filming restrictions, filming of little progress was being made. In a last ditch effort to attain more creative freedom, Disney showed representatives from China the film began in the fall of 1981Fantasia<ref name= "Jack"/>. The film was shot in Circle Vision 360, which required crews This showing seemingly helped convince the Chinese government to film on nine camerasloosen their restrictions, which were stationed on a platformand Disney was given more autonomy. Imagineers returned to China in As part of the winter new agreement, when shots of 1982China's "sensitive" areas was called for, Blyth would turn the sequence over to record the seasonal changes, before concluding filming in the springhis Chinese counterpart<ref name= "Jack"/>. In order to make The Chinese film crew would then film the film more interestingscene, Disney decided to use before it was reviewed by the famous Chinese poetAmerican team, Li Bai as the films narrator. Li Bai (who is known as Li Po in the West) <ref name= "book"> The EPCOT explorer's encyclopedia: R. Pedersen - Epcyclopedia Press - 2011 </ref> wrote over 1,000 poems during the Tang Period<ref name= "Jack"/>would then decided if any additional takes were needed.

The completed Wonders After two months of scouting, the filming of Reflections of China began in the fall of 1981<ref name= "Jack"/>. As previously mentioned, the film was approximately 19 minutes longshot in CircleVision 360, which required crews to film on nine cameras, and it featured parts of China that had never been seen by most Westerners were stationed on a platform. Imagineers returned to China in the winter of 1981 to record the seasonal changes, before concluding filming the following spring <ref name= "Jack"/>. The total cost of making To narrate the film as just over $1,000Blyth decided to use the famous Chinese poet,000 Li Bai. Li Bai (who is known as Li Po in the West) <ref name= "timesbook"> https The EPCOT explorer's encyclopedia://newsR.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19820607&id=tvdLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kO4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7014,2843621&hl=en Pedersen - Epcyclopedia Press - 2011 </ref>. The film opened with the rest of World Showcase on October wrote over 1, 1982000 poems during the Tang Period<ref name= "Jack"/>. The film remained unchanged until 2002According to director Jeff Blyth:[[Image:LiPo. By 2002, jpg|400px|thumb| Li Bai served as Wonders of China had become both an industrial country and a popular tourist attraction's narrator. With these changes]]{{Quotation|I chose Li Po, Wonders a famous poet of China began the Tang Dynasty, to seem datedbe our guide and on-camera narrator. Imagineers eventually decided that they needed to update This might seem like the equivalent of using Shakespeare to narrate a film, and on March 25present day England, 2002 but I deliberately chose a historic figure so that the Wonders words he spoke would not seem to some conservative members of China was shown for the final time audience like the official party line. <ref name= "bookcasting"/>Viner, Michael, and Terrie Maxine. Frankel. Tales from the Casting Couch: An Unprecedented Candid Collection of Stories, Essays, and Anecdotes by and about Legendary Hollywood Stars, Starlets, and Wanna-bes--. Beverly Hills, CA: Dove, 1995. Print. Pages 68-69 </ref>}}

On May 23, 2003 an updated version of Wonders of China made its debut in In the China pavilion <ref name= "Jack"/>. The new film, known as Reflections of China, now featured Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Macau. Other scenes, including the Great Wall, Tienanmen Square, Beijing, Harbin, and Urumqi were all updated for the 21st century <ref name= "Jack"/>. For the refurbishment, all of the narration Li Po was re-dubbedplayed by Chinese actor Shih Kuan, and a new score whose voice was composed then overdubbed by Richard Bellis <ref name= "book"/>Keye Luke. Since 2003, Reflections of China has not experienced any changes.===Casting Li Po===According to director Jeff Blyth:

{{Quotation|I chose Li PoThe completed Wonders of China film was approximately 19 minutes long, a famous poet and it featured parts of China that had never been seen by most Westerners <ref name= "Jack"/>. The total cost of making the Tang Dynastyfilm as just over $1, to be our guide and on-camera narrator000,000 <ref name= "times"> https://news. This might seem like google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19820607&id=tvdLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kO4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7014,2843621&hl=en </ref>. The attraction opened with the equivalent rest of using Shakespeare to narrate a film [[EPCOT Center]] on present day EnglandOctober 1, but I deliberately chose 1982.  By 2002, China had become both an industrial country and a historic figure so that the words he spoke would not popular tourist attraction. With these changes, Wonders of China began to seem dated. Imagineers eventually decided that they needed to some conservative members update the film, and on March 25, 2002 Wonders of China was shown for the audience like the official party line. final time <ref name="castingbook"/> Viner.  Jeff Blythe returned to direct the updated film, Michaelwhich would combine new footage of the country shot in 2002, with scenes from the original film, and Terrie Maxinescenes shot in 1981 that had never been used. FrankelDisney's film crews arrived in China in September 2002 for two months of filming<ref name="Chinanews"/>. Tales Joined by filmmakers from the Casting Couch: An Unprecedented Candid Collection the China Research Institute of StoriesFilm Science, Essaysthe team set out to record new footage in seven Chinese cities<ref name="Chinanews"/>. Among the biggest additions to film, were scenes featuring Hong Kong and Anecdotes Macao which were not governed by and about Legendary Hollywood StarsChina when the original Wonders of China film was made. In a similar fashion, Starletsfilm crews also reshot Shanghai, which had been modernized in the intervening twenty years. Other scenes, including the Great Wall, Tienanmen Square, Beijing, Harbin, and Wanna-bes--Urumqi were all updated for the 21st century <ref name= "Jack"/>. Beverly HillsWhen commenting on the updated film, CABlyth noted: Dove {{Quotation| "The biggest difference is that 20 years ago we had permission to film on these locations, 1995but people did not really understand what we were doing. Print. Pages 68-69 We did not get as much cooperation as we are getting now"</refname="Chinanews"/>}} In addition to the updated scenes, Reflections of China (as the film would now be called) also received and updated score composed by Richard Bellis <ref name="book"/>. This score featured new sections added to a revised version of the original Wonders of China score. Finally, although the film was still narrated by Li Po, a new narration was recorded for the film. In the attraction's new scenes, a body double was used to replace original actor Shi Kuan, who was too old to reprise his role. A new actor was brought in to overdub Po's narration throughout the entire film, as Keye Luke had passed away in 1991. In total, Reflections of China is six minutes shorter than its predecessor.

When Disney and the People's Republic Reflections of China were negotiating filming accessibilityofficially opened to guests on May 23, veteran Chinese actor Shih Kuan was China's chief negotiator <ref name= "casting"/>2003. Kuan originally chose Since this time, the actor who would play Li Po in the film <ref name= "casting"/>attraction has not seen any major changes. However, when At the actor demanded he be paid in the weeks between shootings2017 D23 Expo however, Director Jeff Blyth told Kuan Walt Disney Imagineering's Vice President and Senior Creative Executive Tom Fitzgerald announced that either he would play Li Po or Disney would fly be creating a new Circle-Vision film for the [[China]] pavilion. According to Hong Kong and cast someone else<ref name= Disney, the new film will be the first shot using a "castingnext-generation digital camera system"<ref> https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2017/07/new-film-at-china-pavilion-in-epcot-will-feature-new-technology/ </ref>. EventuallyIt is unclear at this time what relation, Shih Kuan relented and agreed if any, the new film will have to portray Li Pothe current Reflections of China film.

[[Image:ReflectionsofChinafilimng.jpg|400px|thumb|The scenes in the current version filming of Wonders of China]]Reflections of China areshowcases many of China's cultural and natural landmarks. The scenes in the film depict:

===Wonders of China===* When filming the Huangshan Mountain sequence, over three dozen locals were hired to lift a 300-pound camera up 16,700 stone steps<ref name= "Jack"/>.

* To make the scene seem more natural, in Wonders of China, actors were used instead of real tourists in the Great Wall scene <ref name= "times"/>