Travel Wanderlust: A Visit To Stunning C-Drama Filming Locations
It's been a while since my last travel adventure. The pandemic effectively cut off everything about my travel plans, so I have not posted any articles from an actual leisure trip in almost two years. However lately, while watching the travel vlog of Chinese heartthrob, Wu Lei (Leo Wu), who portrayed the irresistible Ashile Sun in the recently concluded C-Drama, The Long Ballad, on his recent outdoor cycling adventure to Qiandao Lake in Zhejiang province, China, I became interested in writing a travel feature again.
Although borders are still closed and international travel for leisure is still off the table, we can actually start planning our next trip as early as now, set the budget, and do some research on gorgeous places to visit. Since I am fascinated with the breathtaking scenery of the C-drama filming locations, I have compiled the best places to visit in China to experience the C-drama historical feel.
Like most drama fanatics who became interested to visit Korea after becoming addicted to K-drama series, I am also interested to explore the C-drama filming locations in mainland China. In great contrast to other Asian dramas, including Korean dramas, Chinese dramas are mostly filmed on film sets that depict the real situations of an era in the storyline.
C-Drama filming locations
If you are frequently watching historical or costume series of C-Drama, you will notice the locations are mostly in tranquil villages, beautiful scenery, mountains, lakes, and quaint towns that recreate the life of an old world.
Actually, those dramas are filmed in China's two biggest film studios - Hengdian World Studio and Xiangshan Global studios. There are some instances when filming takes place somewhere else, in the actual locations of beautiful villages, mountains, and the grasslands.
Here are the places where you should go to see the actual filming locations of C-Drama:
1. Hengdian World Studios. Located in Hengdian, Dongyang, Zhejiang province. It is operated by Hengdian Group owned by Xu Wenrong and it is the world's largest film studio. One of the most popular tourist attractions in Asia with a recorded number of visitors of 20 million in 2019.
It recreates Imperial Palace buildings and pavilions. Around 70% of Chinese TV series and films are shoot in Hengdian studios. Even the K-drama, Empress Ki, was shot there. It has 21 filming lots spread across 30 square kilometers. The tour here is not only for drama memories but also to make each one's wildest film fantasies come true.
The scene takes you back in time, to the ancient world of imperial dynasties of Qing, Sui, Ming, Tang, and Qin as the area is filled with glittery palaces designed to recreate the atmosphere of the country's vivid past. It has also a theme park called Dream Valley where visitors can watch plays, live shows, and movies. One of its grandest buildings is the replica of the Imperial Palace building.
Popular films and TV series shot there are:
- Forbidden Kingdom (a blockbuster Jackie Chan and Jet Li film collaboration released in 2008)
- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Ang Lee film which won Best Foreign Film in the Oscar awards in 2001 starring Michelle Yeoh and Chow Yun Fat)
- Empress Ki (Korean historical drama)
- The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
- Mulan (2020 Disney live-action film starring Liu Yifei)
- More than 70% of historical and costume C-Drama series are shot here. The Long Ballad, The Untamed, Legend of Fuyao, and many more.
Famous replicas in this outdoor film studio:
- Guangzhou Street and Hong Kong Street
- The Palace of Emperor Qin
- Palace of Ming and Qing Dynasties
- Qing Ming Shang He Tu
- The Dream Bund
- New Yuanmingyuan
- Dream Valley
Entrance fee: 400 yuan per person. Operating hours: 8:00pm to 5:00pm
What to do at Hengdian World studio:
- Watch live cultural performances, shows and movies at night time at Dream Valley
- Experience an ancient costume dress-up just like the characters in historical films and series
- Stay in film set hotels
- Tour around the magnificent imperial palaces, princely pavilions and replicas of old oriental streets
- Dream bund area allows you to experience the old Shanghai
2. Xiangshan Global Studios. A film and television studio located in Xinqiao town in the Xiangshan county, Zhejiang province. Measured at 78,000 square meters or 194 acre, it is a popular location for C-Drama historical series and films, however a bit smaller than Hengdian world studios.
Most popular films and series shot here:
- The Return of the Condor Heroes
- The Legend of the Condor Heroes
- Nirvana in Fire
- Eternal Love: Ten Miles of Peach Blossom
- The Flame's Daughter
- The Longest Day in Chang'an
- Legend of Qin
- Chinese Paladin 3
- Sound of the Desert
- Journey to the West
- The Warrior's Gate (film)
- Sacrifice (film)
- The Four (film)
0 Comments