Hengdian World Studios () is a Chinese film studio located in the town of Hengdian, Dongyang, a county-level city in eastern Jinhua, Zhejiang province. It is one of the largest outdoor film studios in the world, and is operated by the privately owned Hengdian Group founded by Xu Wenrong, who developed acres of farmland in central Zhejiang into a large filmmaking backlot in the mid-1990s. The studio is around in total area with a gross leasable area of , and has been ongoing ever since with the completed addition of the replica of the Old Summer Palace called the Hengdian Yuanmingyuan.Remaking China's 'Garden of Perfect Splendor' - World Blog - msnbc.com A film about extras working at the studio, I Am Somebody, was released in China in 2015.
Studio The studio's sets are free for film crews; the studio makes returns on the hotels, restaurants, equipment and costumes.The world's largest film studio isn't in the US but in China and is one of the country's biggest tourist attractions. Clarissa Sebag-Montefiore takes a look. "Is 'Chinawood' the new Hollywood?", BBC. Retrieved on 2014-10-10. The studio consists of 30 outdoor shooting bases and 130 indoor studio sets, with a total area of up to 330 ha. and building areas of 495,995 square meters.Hengdian World Studios, Yiwuen.com In addition to its huge scale, the studio also has several records which includes:
Largest Indoor Buddha Figure in China. Largest Scale Indoor Studio. Highest number of Films and Teleplay Shoots as of 2005.
One of the studio's largest buildings is the Imperial Palace Building built in the Early Chinese Dynasty style in the Qin and Han periods. That area is still frequently used to shoot movies based on these eras. The director Zhang Yimou used this building as the backdrop for the Emperor Qin's palace for his 2002 movie Hero.Stephen Short and Susan Jakes. "Making of a Hero", TIME Asia. Retrieved on 2007-05-21. A Hong Kong TVB drama serial titled A Step into the Past which tells the story of the First Qin Emperor also used the same building as the main backdrop. The studio was also used to film The Forbidden Kingdom, the first on-screen collaboration between actors Jackie Chan and Jet Li.Arthur Jones "Chan, Li's 'Kingdom' coming soon", Variety.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-06 In addition, it was also used for the filming of the popular Korean drama serial Empress Ki. More than 1,200 movies and TV shows have been shot there, including Ang Lee's Oscar-winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon;China's Alibaba Pictures, Hengdian Studios to Form Film, TV Joint Venture, hollywoodreporter.com the Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, which is Hollywood co-produced using sets in the Studio;The world's largest film studio isn't in the US but in China and is one of the country's biggest tourist attractions. Clarissa Sebag-Montefiore takes a look. "Is 'Chinawood' the new Hollywood?", BBC. Retrieved on 2014-10-10. live-action Mulan (2020 film) released on Disney+ on September 4, 2020 in the US.Disney's new live-action retelling of the classic tale was filmed in China and New Zealand "Inside the Rich and Timeless Sets of Mulan", Architectural Digest. Retrieved on 2020-09-04.
History In 1996, Guangzhou Street Scenic Area, the first film and television shooting base, was built to shoot the film Opium War by director Xie Jin. In 1997, the King of Qin Palace scenic spot was constructed. In 2000, all its scenes were declared free of rent. In 2004, Hengdian Film and Television Industry Experimental Zone was established as China's number one national film and television industry experimental zone. In 2010, Hengdian World Studios was listed as a national AAAAA level Scenic Spot.
Visitor attendance In additional to being a film studio, Hengdian World Studios has also become a tourist attraction, with many of its large sets opening to visitors. 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 10.9 million 11.77 million 12 million13.8 million15.18 million15.77 million16 million19 million20 million
Film and television It has been reported that around 70 percent of period Chinese television shows and films are being shot at Hengdian World Studios every year.
Film
Confucius Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame DOA: Dead or Alive I Am Somebody Iron Road The Man with the Iron Fists The Opium War Reign of Assassins Snow Flower and the Secret Fan The Warriors Gate
TV series
Beauty's Rival in Palace Carol of Zhenguan The Confidant Founding Emperor of Ming Dynasty The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber Legend of Nine Tails Fox Madam White Snake Palace The Patriotic Knights A Step into the Past Story of Yanxi Palace Zheng He Xia Xiyang The Untamed No Return (2024 TV series) Pursuit of Jade
Select attractions
+ Attraction Type Old Guangzhou Street and Old Hong Kong Street Scenic spot Shooting base Live show/performance The Palace of Emperor Qin Scenic spot Shooting base Live show/performance Palace of Ming and Qing Dynasties Scenic spot Shooting base Live show/performance Qing Ming Shang He Tu Scenic spot Shooting base Live show/performance Legend of Bund Scenic spot Shooting base Live show/performance New Yuanmingyuan Scenic spot Shooting base Live show/performance Dream Valley Scenic spot Amusement park
Notes
External links
Hengdian World Studios official website Hengdian World Studios official website Hengdian Group - Parent Company