In a country with 5,000 years of history, there is a lot of inspiration for film and television plots. In and around Shanghai, there are several locations that offer the historical accuracy needed to make these stories authentic for audiences.

In 1987, the first film and television studio on the Chinese mainland was built in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, and since that time more than 100 studios have been constructed around China. Today, those studios are not only places for shooting but also for sightseeing.

 Hengdian World Studios: the birthplace of the Chinese blockbuster

Dubbed as "Chinese Hollywood" by the American magazine Hollywood Report, Hengdian World Studios is the largest filming location in China. Like Universal Studios in Los Angeles, Hengdian World Studios in Dongyang, Zhejiang Province is also a theme park that is open to visitors.

As the largest studio in Asia, it boasts 13 film sets and two large-scale high-tech studios. The different architectural styles of these film sets represent Chinese history from the Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC) to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

In 1996, the first set in Hengdian, Guangzhou Street and Hong Kong Street, was constructed for the historical movie Opium War, which was released to correspond with the return of Hong Kong to the motherland. With 120 houses, an artificial Pearl River and a tower, the new set mirrors a scene from Guangzhou in the 19th century.

After the success of Opium War, Chen Kaige, a Chinese film director famous for his epic storytelling, arrived at Hengdian hoping to recreate the glorious palaces of the Qin Dynasty for his film The Emperor and the Assassin. A replica of the Palaces of Emperor Qinshihuang now stands at Hengdian. Twenty one splendid imperial palaces surrounded by 18-meter-high walls demonstrate the tremendous power of the Qin Dynasty when it annexed six states. Zhang Yimou's Hero (2002), Chen Kaige's The Promise (2005) and the US film The Mummy: Tomb of The Dragon Emperor (2008) all featured the Palace of Emperor Qin.  

Song Dynasty (960-1279) artist Zhang Zeduan's panoramic painting Along the River during the Qingming Festival served as a blueprint for a scenic spot of the same name in Hengdian. The spot covers almost all the elements necessary to recreate a busy marketplace that took place thousands of years ago.

Six bridges, nine docks, 16 memorial arches and innumerable stone lions, horses, tablets, water-side pavilions and winding corridors recreate a miniaturized version of the capital of North Song Dynasty. This set is where the majority of films and television series are shot at Hengdian World Studios.

The Dream Taiji Show in Dream Valley introduces the conflict and unity between humans and nature, which is a central belief in the indigenous Chinese religion Taoism. The performance includes laser beams, LED lights, fires and mist along with dancing, acrobatics, illusions and special effects. The show provides visitors with a feast for the eyes as well as a golden opportunity to learn and understand Taoism and other aspects of ancient Chinese culture.
Tips:

In every movie set there are several shows, which include the ceremony of the officers paying respect to the emperor and fierce cavalry and sea battles. Check the times of the shows beforehand.

In the main palace of the Palaces of Emperor Qinshihuang, visitors can wear traditional costumes and live out their fantasy as an emperor, empress, prince or princess by creating their own videos under the instruction of professional directors.  

Tickets:

The Palaces of Emperor Qinshihuang (秦王宫): 90 yuan/ticket

The Palaces of Ming and Qing (明清宫苑): 95 yuan/ticket

Along the River during the Qingming Festival (清明上河图): 90 yuan/ticket

Guangzhou Street and Hong Kong Street: (广州香港街): 90 yuan/ticket

Dream Valley (夜游梦幻谷景区): 180 yuan/ticket

Opening hours:

Movie Sets: 8:00 am -5:00 pm

Dream Valley: 3:30 pm-9:00 pm

Address:

Hengdian Town, Dongyang, Zhejiang Province

浙江省东阳市横店镇

Website:

www.hengdianworld.com
If you have a qipao and want to relive old Shanghai, Shanghai Film Park is the perfect place.

Located in Songjiang district, Shanghai Film Park features scenes from Shanghai at the turn of the 20th century. Since its opening in 1998, more than 100 television series and over 30 films have been shot here including Ang Lee's Lust ,Caution, Stephen Chow's Kung Fu Hustle and Donnie Yen's Ip Man.

In old Shanghai, Nanjing Road was also known as "the Eastern Wall Street" because of its brisk business and commerce. Within the park, the prosperous appearance of Nanjing Road in the 1930s has been restored. In the shop windows of the Sincere Company and Yong'an Department Store, old-style handbags and mannequins wearing fashions from the period are on display. The facades of watch shops, photo studios, jewelry stores and ballrooms take people back to the elegance of the past.

The tram running on the Nanjing Road is a sight in motion. Taking a tour around Nanjing Road on the tram, with the ringing of the tram bells, you will feel that you are passing through a time tunnel and returning to the days when Shanghai truly was the Paris of the East.

The Garden Bridge is another famous Shanghai scenic spot replicated in the film park. The miniature bridge often reminds tourists of a dramatic scene from the television series Romance in the Rain, where the leading actress (a singer played by Zhao Wei,) attempted to end her life by jumping into Suzhou Creek.

The Shanghai residences known as shikumen are an essential backdrop in  movies and television shows about old Shanghai. The narrow lanes and stone walls in the park take you back to a time before they were filled with expensive restaurants and designer shops.

In contrast to the shikumen, four Western-style villas standing on the north side of the park represent the residences of rich businessmen in old Shanghai. The Moller Villa in the middle of the Western courtyard looks like a castle from one of Hans Christian Anderson's fairy tales.

The Spanish-style villa in the park is an exhibition of costumes and props in old Shanghai. The wax figures and costumes displayed represent scenes of different times, demonstrating China's long history and vast culture.

Tips:

At 10:30 am and 2:00 pm each day in N0.5 film studio, there are two martial arts and stunt shows called Shanghai Tan. Visitors are invited to join in and learn how the stunts in films are made.

At the entrance of the park, visitors can see the day's filming schedule, which they are welcome to view.

Tickets:

50 yuan/ticket

25 yuan/ticket with a student card

Opening hours:

8:30 am-4:30 pm

Address:

4915 Beisong Highway, Chedun Town, Songjiang district, Shanghai

上海市松江区车墩镇北松公路4915号

Tel: 021-5760-0008
Nestled between the foot of Shanjunzhang Hill and Taihu Lake, CCTV Wuxi Movie/TV Base combines natural beauty with historic architecture.

Constructed in 1987, CCTV Wuxi Movie/TV Base is the nation's first studio-based theme park. The chief components of the studio are a town set in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), a town set during the Three Kingdoms period (220-280) and a town set during the Song Dynasty inspired by the great Chinese classical novel Water Margin.

Three Kingdoms town was constructed for the 84-episode historical television series Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which is set during the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD) and the beginning of the Three Kingdoms period.

In the horse court of the Three Kingdoms town, a performance of Three Heroes Fighting Lü Bu, a military general from the Han Dynasty, is on at 10:00 am every morning.

All the actors in the show were stunt men for Romance of the Three Kingdoms. At the climax of the battle, four men on horses form a tight cluster in fierce combat with their spears and sabers rattling together. The equipment creates a striking audio and visual impact. One tourist commented, "just one show of Three Heroes Fighting Lü Bu is worth the price of admission alone."

Near the performing court are the Han Tripod, Peach Garden and sculptures of characters from the Three Kingdoms period. The Han Tripod is mentioned in the Guinness Record as being the biggest tripod in the world.

Tips:

On the horse court, visitors can ride horses and experience what it is like being a soldier on the battlefield.

Every day there are bell performances in the King of Wu's Palace and acrobatics and puppetry on Purple Stone (Zishi) Street and Riverside. The exact times for these performances are posted at the studio.

Tickets:

Town of Three Kingdom 三国城: 60 yuan/ticket

Town of Water Margin 水浒城: 60 yuan/ticket

Package for Three Kingdom and Water Margin: 100 yuan/ticket

Opening hours:

7:30 am-5:30 pm

Address:

Shanshui Road West, Binhu district, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province

江苏省无锡市滨湖区山水西路

Transport:

Take Bus 82 at Wuxi Railway Station and get off at the Town of the Three Kingdoms

Tel:

0510-8555-2687/0510-8555-5252

Website:

www.ctvwx.com/eng_ver/introduce.html
Regarded as the"Small Oriental Venice," Tongli is an ancient town situated in east China's Jiangsu Province. Tongli is surrounded by five lakes. The town is divided into 7 small islands by 15 rivers arranged like the Chinese character "川" (chuan) and is connected by 49 ancient bridges.

With the unique water town scenery and the well-preserved architecture dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties, Tongli has attracted not only several million tourists, but has also been the setting for many film and television productions over the years.

In 1983, Xie Tieli filmed Bao and His Son in the town. After the first screening of the film in Suzhou, the unsophisticated small town, the tranquil houses and cobblestone lanes left a deep impression on audiences. Since then, Tongli has become one of the top shooting locations in China.

Almost every corner of Tongli has appeared on screen. Visitors can find the garden, where the character Lin Daiyu, in the television series Dream of the Red Chamber buried flowers or the tower where the characters Lin Chong and Lu Zhishen drank wine in the television series The Unyielding Master Lim (adapted from Water Margin) or the old mansions from the television series Family, Spring and Autumn (adapted from Ba Jin's semi-autobiographical trilogy).

Address:

Tongli Town, Wujiang, Jiangsu Province

江苏省吴江市同里镇

Admission: Free

Website:

www.tongli.net/english
Located in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, Xiangshan TV & Film Base is one of the newest studios in China. With Lingyan Mountain as a backdrop, it integrates the natural scenery of mountains, rocks, caves, lakes and forests. Xiangshan TV & Film Base was constructed based on the scripts of the television series The Legend of the Condor Hero, which was adapted from the kung fu novel of the same title by Jin Yong, a popular modern Chinese novelist.

The romantic kung fu story as well as the Song Dynasty architecture add to the charm of the natural scenery.

In addition, the Xiangshan TV & Film Base boasts the largest man-made outdoor banyan forest and the largest man-made karst cave in China. An old battlefield is also one of the largest in China.

Tickets:

Xiangshan The Legend of the Condor Hero film base: 60 yuan/ticket

Address:

Xinqiao town, Xiangshan County, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province

浙江省宁波市象山县新桥镇

Tel:

0574-6588-6020, 0574-6588-6008

Website:

www.xsysc.com