Opened in 1996, Hengdian World Studios, which is known as China's Hollywood, is the world's largest film studio. It is located in Hengdian, a township about a 2½ hours' drive south from Hangzhou, and about 4½ hours' driving from Shanghai.
As Zhang Xianchun, the chief designer of the studio and designer of the Opium War props and Guangzhou Street, said: "For today's Hengdian World Studios, film and television are just the instruments. Tourism is the goal and culture is its soul."
The 5 Best Things to Do in Hengdian World Studios
Cultivated from acres of farmland, Hengdian World Studios has been grown into a remarkable size, covering an area of 3.3 sq km (1.3 sq mi).
Hengdian World Studios now has more than ten shooting bases with sets spanning thousands of years and thousands of square meters, such as Ming and Qing Palatial Garden, Qin Palace, Guangzhou Street · Hong Kong Street, Qingming Shang He Tu (the famous Qingming river painting scene), Dream Valley, Dream Bund Film & TV Theme Park, Spring and Autumn· Tang Park, Ming and Qing Folk Residences Exposition Center, Chinese Culture Park, Rocky Grottos, and Dazhi Temple, as well as ten Grade-A (film-class) and Grade-B (TV-class) studios.
Hengdian World StudiosIn this largest live-action shooting base, you can:
1. Appreciate a Number of Scenic Building Clusters
The Qin Palace shooting site represents the magnificent imperial palace of the Qin Empire (221–206 BC). There are 27 imitation halls and various side halls, building gates, and palace gates in the Qin Palace Scenic Area. It is famous for its huge scale, complex shape, and rigorous layout.
The Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties truthfully reproduces the buildings and lifestyles of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1912). You can see imperial palaces, imperial gardens, mansions of princes, government offices of feudal China, hutongs, and folk dwellings at the site. This is where hot films and TV series were filmed, such as Curse of the Golden Flower, War and Beauty, The Legend of Zhen Huan, Story of Yanxi Palace, and Jade Palace Lock Heart.
The Guangzhou Street · Hong Kong Street base, the birthplace of Hengdian Film and Television, represents the scenery of Guangzhou and Hong Kong around 1840.
The Qingming Shang He Tu set was built combining the social background, folk customs, and folk living style of the Northern Song Dynasty (960–1127). You can see the ancient architectural characteristics of the Song Dynasty.
Dream Bund will bring you to an old Shanghai of the 1930s and 1940s.
New Yuanming Garden is a 1:1 reproduction of the original Old Summer Palace in Beijing.
Qin Palace 2. Have Fun in Dream Valley
Dream Valley is a large-scale film-and-TV-experience nighttime theme park, simulating various natural phenomena such as volcanic eruptions, torrential rains and flash floods. If you go in Summer (July–August), you should not miss the aquatic park in the valley.
3. Enjoy the Various Cultural Performances
Hengdian World Studios is China's tourism and performing arts capital with 20 large-scale performing arts shows and more than 100 street shows.
Hengdian Performing Arts Show4. Experience an Ancient Costume Dress-Up
Each studio offers you different dress-up experiences. You can rent a costume of the Han, Tang, or Qing dynasty (men's and women's available) or a qipao for pictures. There will be one that suits you best!
5. Stay in Film Set Hotels
There are many hotels in the film bases, perfectly integrated with the studios. The hotels and rooms are decorated based on the classic film and television scenes filmed in Hengdian, making your hotel environment just like in the movies.
Recommended Hengdian World Studios tour: 2-Day Hengdian World Studios Weekend Getaway
Hengdian Qipao Dress-upHengdian World Studios Tickets and Tours
As world's largest film and TV shooting base, it is not possible for you to explore all of Hengdian World Studios in one day. You can book a single shooting base ticket, or a multiple shooting bases combined ticket, or a hotel stay + film sets package ticket. There are one-day tickets, two-day tickets, and three-day tickets. Contact us for ticket booking.
If you only have one day, a one-day combined ticket to Ming and Qing Palatial Garden, Qin Palace, and Guangzhou Street · Hong Kong Street is recommended or you can also consider any other three bases.
- Hengdian World Studios 2-day trip recommendation: any 3 main bases + Dream Valley
- Hengdian World Studios 3-day trip recommendation: any 4 main bases+ Dream Valley
The bases are all big, and it may take you 2–3 hours' walking to see one base. Besides, there are about 3–4 performances in each base per day at fixed times from 8:30am to 4:30pm. There are more than 100 street shows in the whole studios.
It might not be easy to arrange your valuable time to see all the bases and shows you want to. This would be not a problem in a well-designed guided trip. Your experienced guide will help you to get where you want to be right on time. Contact us for a guided Hengdian World Studios tour.
Guangzhou Street·Hongkong StreetHengdian World Studios Hotels
From getaway and vacation stays to business travel, from 3 stars to 5 stars, from chain hotels to local characteristic B&Bs to film-set-themed boutiques, accommodation variety in Hengdian World Studios has never been a problem! For convenience, we suggest you stay in or near a base.
The unfailingly recommended hotels are:
- Guangzhou Street Film & TV Theme Boutique Hotel: Located in the Guangzhou Street · Hong Kong Street base and based on the classic film and television drama scenes filmed in Hengdian, it shows you the way of life in the 1840s movies.
- Dream Bund Hotel: Located in Dream Bund Film & TV Theme Park, it features the old Shanghai living style of the 1930s.
- Foison Jewel Grand Hotel: Located near the entrance of Ming and Qing Folk Residences Exposition Center, it has a simple European style.
- International Trade Hotel: Located in the center of Hengdian World Studios, it is only about 5 minutes' drive from the major film bases.
- International Conference Center Hotel: Located in the busy Wansheng Street, it is about 400 meters from Dream Valley.
Contact us to inquire, book, or for more hotel choices.
Guangzhou Street Film & TV Theme Boutique HotelHengdian World Studios Map
The bases are mainly concentrated in the north and south of Hengdian Town, from which they are about 7 km or 15 minutes' driving. Shuttle buses are available between the bases.
Hengdian World Studios MapHow to Get to Hengdian World Studios and Travel Around
Hengdian World Studios is located in the Hengdian Township of Dongyang Prefecture. It takes less than 4 hours' travelling time to get there from Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Fujian, and Jiangxi. You can get close to Hengdian, i.e. to Hangzhou, by air and trains.
Travel from Hangzhou to Hengdian
Hengdian is about 160 kilometers or 2½ hours' driving from Hangzhou.
There is no airport or train station in Hengdian town, but you can fly to Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport or take a bullet train to Hangzhou. Contact us for private transfers to Hengdian from Hangzhou airport or train station.
Travel from Shanghai to Hengdian
Hengdian is about 330 km or 4½ hours' driving from Shanghai. We can arrange a flexible direct private transfer for your comfort.
Or you could take a buttle train (about 1 hour) to Hangzhou, then have a private transfer from a Hangzhou train station to Hengdian (about 2½ hours).
Travel from Yiwu to Hengdian
Hengdian is about a 1½-hour drive from Yiwu city.
As there is no airport or train station in Hengdian, you could also fly to Yiwu or take a train to Yiwu first. Contact us for a private transfer to Hengdian from Yiwu.
Traveling Around Hengdian
Hengdian is a small town, and you can take a taxi, tourist buses, or special local rickshaws and small vehicles to get around. Travel with China Highlights and your guide could help you to experience the local transportation without any communication problems.
Qingming Shang He Tu setHengdian World Studios Travel Tips
1. When is the best time to visit Hengdian World Studios?
Hengdian World Studios is suitable for touring all year around. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–October) are usually taken to be the best times, with moderate temperatures, neither too hot nor cold.
In the spring, the flowers at Qingming Shanghe Tu, Guangzhou Street · Hongkong Street, and Palace of Ming and Qing Dynasties bloom, and you can take beautiful pictures. In autumn, the weather is basically sunny and clear, and very conducive for your travel.
2. Is it easy to find food in Hengdian?
Yes. You can enjoy food in a hotel, eat in the convenient on-base restaurants, and enjoy street food. Kangzhuang Road and Wansheng Street are famous food streets. In Hengdian, you can taste the different flavors from different regions all over China.
3. Can I bring food/drinks or cameras onto the bases?
Please do not bring food and drinks into any of the parks.
Also, please do not bring professional cameras, photography/filming equipment, drones, or other aircraft into the parks.
4. Will what I want to do always be available?
In the event of a force majeure such as rain, heavy snow, etc., Hengdian World Studios may temporarily change, delay, or cancel some operations and performances.
Due to the maintenance, the amusement projects in the park may be suspended.
Contact us to inquire about the availability of what you want to do.
Explore Hengdian World Studios with Us
Hengdian town is small, but Hengdian World Studios is big. Travel with China Highlights and let us tailor-make a hassle-free China tour including Hengdian World Studios for you. Tell us your requirements and we will create a tour specially for you.
You may want to see this 2-Day Hengdian World Studios Weekend Getaway for inspiration.