China Western Film and Television Base

China Western Film and Television Base

The China Western Film and Television Base is located in Dazu, Chongqing, covering an area of 6 square kilometers, making it the largest and most concentrated film and television base in the western region.

The base is situated within the Dazu Longshui Lake Scenic Area. In addition to commonly used settings for Chinese period dramas and modern productions, it also features an International Street, where world-famous attractions such as London street scenes and San Francisco’s Chinatown are “miniaturized” here. This creates a premium tourism route themed around the “Kingdom of Stone Carvings, Film Base, Hometown of Hot Springs, and International Street.” Aside from visiting the film production sets, visitors can also take part in immersive, on-set movie experiences and enjoy the fun of filmmaking.

The overall design of the film base is structured around a tree-lined boulevard park loop. Outside the loop are eleven natural hills, each topped with a tower. At night, these towers project large-scale visuals—patterns and short films related to film and television—onto the city walls or into the night sky, transforming the entire base into a nighttime cinema museum.

The film studios and film school are located on the west side of the base, arranged in a north-south layout. The studio area connects to the urban main road to the north, while the school neighbors the residential area to the southeast. The studio zone includes nine large soundstages. Unlike typical factory-style studios, the stages here are designed to resemble ancient Chinese dwellings. This not only makes them more visually appealing and innovative but also creates a variety of scenes frequently used in filming.

Some buildings within the base, including residences and hotels, will recreate the former homes of Chongqing celebrities and consulates from the 1940s. According to sources, the ancient town commercial street is located next to the urban main road, linking the studios and resort hotels. Its design draws inspiration from the practices of Hengdian World Studios, integrating architectural and environmental silhouettes from different regions and time periods to create a rich array of filming backdrops. The commercial street features a Hundred Plays Stage, while across the water are a theater and restaurants. The religious area lies at the center of the base, housing a grand temple, a forest of steles, and a Hundred Dragons Garden, reflecting Dazu’s Buddhist culture and carving art.

Approximately 700 episodes of TV dramas and films are produced here each year. Supporting facilities include an ancient town commercial street, hot spring hotels, and a water amusement park. There are three hot spring hotels with over 1,800 rooms, plus surrounding farmhouse accommodations, bringing the daily reception capacity to over 10,000 visitors.