National China Film Digital Production Base

National China Film Digital Production Base

China Film Group Corporation (abbreviated as "China Film Group") was approved by the State Council and formed in 1999 from eight entities: the former China Film Corporation, Beijing Film Studio, China Children's Film Studio, China Film Co-Production Corporation, China Film Equipment Corporation, Film Satellite Channel Program Center, Beijing Film Developing and Video Technology Factory, and Huayun Film & TV Optical Disc Co., Ltd. It is a top-tier, large-scale film group in China that integrates the film and television industry with diverse business sectors. Located in Yangsong Town, Huairou District, Beijing, it is currently the largest film and television production base in Asia. The base was built by China Film Group with an investment of 3 billion RMB to enhance the quality of domestic film production and align with global trends. Covering an area of over 800 acres, the first phase alone includes 150,000 square meters of construction, completed over two years. The base provides a comprehensive range of services essential for filmmaking, including soundstages and exterior filming locations, equipment rental, set construction, makeup, costumes, props, post-production, animation production, film processing, optical disc manufacturing, extras management, vehicle rental, power supply, and logistical support—forming a complete "one-stop" film production pipeline. It has the capacity to produce 80 feature films, 200 TV movies, and 500 TV drama episodes annually. China Film Base is the only group in China authorized by the government to import films. It has established business relationships with over 400 film companies across more than 100 countries and regions, and boasts the capability to distribute over 100 films per year. The base has received more than a hundred international and national awards. Recognized as the "flagship" and "leader" of China’s film and television industry, it is often referred to as China’s “Hollywood” with international standards and Asia’s largest "national-level film and television industry base." The base is divided into 11 zones, serving as a fully integrated film production factory that combines pre- and post-production with functions such as filming, sound recording, digital production, animation, equipment rental, and optical disc manufacturing.

Soundstage Area – Covering an area of 40,000 square meters, this zone houses 16 fully equipped soundstages in six different sizes. All stages are designed and constructed to meet the standards required for synchronous sound recording. There is one 5,000 sq m stage, one 3,000 sq m stage, two 2,000 sq m stages, three 1,500 sq m stages, and three 800 sq m stages. They are all equipped with ventilation systems, heating and cooling, as well as catwalks. The auxiliary buildings around the stages provide spaces for makeup rooms, costume rooms, prop rooms, production offices, workspaces, and rest areas—all outfitted with high-speed broadband, communication equipment, and wireless internet coverage. These comprehensive facilities offer an ideal environment for shooting. The largest, Stage 11, spans 5,000 square meters. Stage 6 is one of the most iconic stages on the site, covering 1,200 square meters. Its most notable feature is that it was used as the interior set for the “Pockmarked Face Noodle Shop” in director Zhang Yimou’s film A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop. This scene was a crucial part of the movie, with the set meticulously built at a cost of 900,000 RMB. Some materials were transported from Hebei and Anhui Provinces. While the load-bearing structures and main frameworks are real, if you touch the walls, you’ll find they’re made of plywood and special coatings by the set construction crew. Even the bowls on the tables are plastic. Doesn’t it look incredibly realistic? Take a closer look and see which props are fake. The Pockmarked Face Noodle Shop is two stories high; the ground floor served as the dining area, while the upper floor was the resting quarters for the boss and Xiao Shenyang’s characters. However, for safety reasons, the second floor is not open to visitors. The entire building features a classic architectural style from Northern Shaanxi, similar to Shanxi’s Qiao Family Compound. That’s why the female boss in the film speaks with a Northern Shaanxi accent, and the shop’s signature dish is the region’s famous “Youpo Mian” (oil-splashed noodles). On your left is the kitchen where the youpo mian was made in the film. The scenes of Xiao Shenyang and other actors tossing noodles were filmed here. The stoves and noodle tables are real—even the stoves can be used to cook. The flour on the noodle table is the same flour used during the actual shoot. There is even an online game inspired by the Pockmarked Face Noodle Shop scene. In Stage 6, there are also simulated jail cells, rural house gates, anime puppet scenes from The Story of the Green Forest, caves, grocery stores, bookshops, antique shops, teahouses, and other sets tailored for indoor filming, all available for visitors to explore. There are also displays of props used in some film shoots. Stage 7, also 1,200 square meters, features a tropical rainforest scene that transports you into a “fairy tale world.” The realistic animals, lifelike plants, and flowing water—sometimes rapid, sometimes calm, sometimes swirling—make you feel as though you’re truly in a tropical jungle. The stage is outfitted with highly realistic sound, light, and motion effects. Costume & Prop Museum – The museum displays costumes and props worn and used by actors in films such as The Founding of a Republic, Curse of the Golden Flower, A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop, Confucius, and Red Cliff. It also includes costumes worn by performers during the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics. These items hold significant commemorative value, and all costumes were custom-made to fit the actors.

Source: Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development