Cartoon Versions of Three Kingdoms Heroes Debut in SW China

Locals walk by the cartoon figures of the Three Kingdoms period (AD 220-280) in front of a shopping mall in downtown Zunyi, Southwest China's Guizhou province, on April 1, 2016.

Cartoon versions of the historical figures of the Three Kingdoms period (AD 220-280): the god of war, Guan Yu, the military general, Zhang Fei, and the warlord, Liu Bei, debut in front of a shopping mall in downtown Zunyi, Southwest China's Guizhou provin

A man takes photos of the cartoon figures of the Three Kingdoms period (AD 220-280) in front of a shopping mall in downtown Zunyi, Southwest China's Guizhou province, on April 1, 2016.

A cartoon figure of Zhuge Liang, a famous politician and strategist who lived during the Three Kingdoms period (AD 220-280), is seen in front of a shopping mall in downtown Zunyi, Southwest China's Guizhou province, on April 1, 2016.

A man looks at the cartoon figures while pushing a baby stroller in front of a shopping mall in downtown Zunyi, Southwest China's Guizhou province, on April 1, 2016.

A boy poses for photos next to a cartoon figure of Zhang Fei in front of a shopping mall in downtown Zunyi, Southwest China's Guizhou province, on April 1, 2016.

A woman poses for photos next to a cartoon figure of Liu Bei in front of a shopping mall in downtown Zunyi, Southwest China's Guizhou province, on April 1, 2016.

In this time of online shopping, what could a shopping mall possibly do to gain the attention of shoppers?

In downtown Zunyi in Guizhou Province, a shopping mall summoned three prominent historical figures to gain publicity. It sculpted cartoon versions of Guan Yu, the god of war; Zhang Fei, the military general; and Liu Bei, the warlord.

The three characters hail from the Three Kingdoms period (A.D. 220-280), which is the basis for the 2008 drama-action film "Red Cliff."