This is “Hollywood of China.” Follow in the footsteps of blockbuster film shoots and you might even bump into a celebrity. Explore the Palace of the King of Qin, Along the River During the Qingming Festival, and Guangzhou Street, traveling through time and space within just two days.
Highlights: Palace of the King of Qin ― Along the River During the Qingming Festival ― Dream Valley ― Guangzhou Street & Hong Kong Street ― Ming & Qing Palaces
Impressions
Palace of the King of Qin ― Along the River During the Qingming Festival ― Dream Valley ― Guangzhou Street & Hong Kong Street ― Ming & Qing Palaces ― Steamed Bun A (text garbled)
Palace of the King of Qin: Five steps to a tower, ten steps to a pavilion, corridors winding like ribbons, eaves curling upwards like bird beaks, each structure adapting to the terrain, intricately interlocked.
Along the River During the Qingming Festival: Carved beams and painted rafters, flutes and drums dancing in the air — step into the painting and feel as if you’ve traveled back a thousand years.
Dream Valley: Volcanic eruptions, primeval forests, ancient tribes — the wonders of heaven and earth come alive in your dreams.
Guangzhou Street & Hong Kong Street: The fiery opium suppression at Humen, the bustling docks of Huangpu River. Everyday life and genre paintings, European-style architecture — all recreate the urban charm of the 19th century.
Ming & Qing Palaces: This is another Forbidden City. Majestic dragon roofs and phoenix eaves, grand and imposing. Explore the deep palace halls, journey through ancient times and the present. Watch scenes from Curse of the Golden Flower, or revisit the love and hate entanglements of Zhen Huan.
Steamed Bun A (text garbled): In the evening, enjoy a local delicacy. Perhaps it's sweet, perhaps it's a snack. Maybe it's an illusion, maybe it's real. Everyone has their own version. The bun is soft and fluffy, wrapped around juicy fillings. One bite and you're hooked. Every bite is delightful. People keep coming back for more. Bite after bite, one dish after another, you gradually forget the outside world. You feel as if you've returned to your childhood home, surrounded by warmth. Everyone loves it.
Sliced Ham: Made from authentic Jinhua ham with bright yellow skin, red meat like fire, rich aroma, well-balanced saltiness, shaped like bamboo leaves — the “four perfections” of color, fragrance, taste, and form. The finest part, the upper section of the central loin, is selected. The chef uses expert knife skills to slice it into evenly sized, thin pieces, arranged in an arch bridge formation. It’s a cold dish that’s perfectly seasoned, rich in flavor, leaves a lingering aftertaste, and is beautifully presented.
Recommended Itinerary
Day 1: Palace of the King of Qin ― Along the River During the Qingming Festival ― Ming & Qing Residential Complex ― Dream Valley
Your first stop is the majestic Palace of the King of Qin, home to countless classic films. Hero, The Promise, and Beauty’s Rival all were born here. Watch the performances Hero Sword Duel and Dreaming Back to Qin & Han. Next, head to the picturesque Along the River During the Qingming Festival area. There, you can catch the classic shows Dream of Bianliang and Laughing Through the Heavenly Gate Formation. If you’re lucky, you might run into a filming crew or meet an idol — don’t miss the chance for an autograph. After lunch, step quietly into the Ming & Qing Residential Complex. Here, you can wander into a Peach Blossom Spring or take a night cruise on the Qinhuai River. Films like Bodyguards and Assassins and The Empire of Heaven were shot here — why not step into the shoes of your favorite character and experience life in the Ming or Qing dynasties? If you have time in the evening, Dream Valley is well worth a visit. Stroll down International Star Street, check out rare spots like Teresa Teng’s Life Museum, or try thrilling rides. Don’t miss the must-see shows Torrential Rain Flood and Dreamy Tai Chi.
Day 2: Huaxia Cultural Park ― Guangzhou Street & Hong Kong Street ― Ming & Qing Palaces ― Pinyan Cave
Start Day 2 at Huaxia Cultural Park, one of the main attractions of Huaxia Cultural City. With its unique concept and presentation, it blends history, knowledge, artistry, sightseeing, entertainment, and participation into one — an unparalleled theme park dedicated to Huaxia culture. Here, you’ll not only see historical relics but also enrich your knowledge as you explore. In the afternoon, visit Guangzhou Street & Hong Kong Street. Without a passport, freely stroll through areas like Victoria Harbour and HSBC. With Hong Kong on one side and Guangzhou on the other, this cultural melting pot offers a journey through time. See the filming location of The Battle at Lake Changjin — Humen Pass — and snap a photo. Next is the Ming & Qing Palaces, built to a 1:1 scale of Beijing’s Forbidden City to meet the needs of period dramas. The complex includes the Imperial Garden, Prince Gong’s Mansion, and Old Beijing Street. Dress up in ancient costumes and walk through the Imperial Garden for a true time-travel experience. Classic shows like the Eight Banners Cavalry Battle are performed at 9:00 and 14:00, while Qing Palace Secret Plays are shown at 10:00 and 15:00 — catch them if your schedule allows. If you’ve had your fill of man-made attractions, head to Pinyan Cave for breathtaking views. Known as the “Number One Cave in the South,” you can take a cable car for a panoramic view of the entire Hengdian area and lush forests — the perfect way to relax and unwind.
Self-Drive Tips
Palace of the King of Qin: Covering 800 acres with a construction area of 110,000 square meters, the Palace of the King of Qin features 27 magnificent palaces, including the main hall “Four Seas Unified Hall” which stands 44.8 meters tall and spans 17,169 square meters. A grand wall, 2,289 meters long and 18 meters high, complements the palace buildings. There’s also a 120-meter-long “Qin-Han Street” covering 20 acres with a construction area of 6,000 square meters, authentically recreating the streetscape of the Qin and Han dynasties. Dusty ancient roads, armored warriors, Yan-Zhao architecture, and Qin-Han culture are all vividly reproduced here. The Four Seas Unified Hall (main hall) consists of a front hall, middle hall, and rear hall, extending over 120 meters in depth — its grandeur speaks for itself. The palace extensively uses large-span bracket sets to create soaring domes and an overwhelming sense of majesty, almost unmatched. To the west of the Palace of the King of Qin lies the Huayang Terrace, styled as the palace of the Yan king, distinctly different from the Qin palace. One base, two palaces — this setup dramatically condenses the vastness of time and space, bringing to life over two thousand years of Chinese history from the Warring States period when the Qin conquered the six states and the sorrowful songs of Yan-Zhao. The intense historical atmosphere of the Palace of the King of Qin also contributed to the film The Emperor and the Assassin winning the Best Technical Award at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival. Many well-known films like Hero, The Emperor in Han Dynasty, A Step into the Past, The Forbidden Kingdom, Painted Skin, and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor used this location as a key setting.
Along the River During the Qingming Festival: The Along the River During the Qingming Festival Film Base is the most captivating new attraction in Hengdian World Studios, known as the “Oriental Hollywood.” Combining tourism, leisure, and film production, it vividly recreates the social landscape and local customs of Bianjing, the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty, giving visitors a sense of traveling through time and stepping into history. Though rooted in the Song Dynasty, it isn’t limited to it — it accommodates film shoots with historical backgrounds from the Han Dynasty onward until before the Republic of China. Designed based on the famous Qingming Scroll by Zhang Zeduan, and after researching Kaifeng city, Song Dynasty architecture, and artwork, the base was constructed with significant investment over a year and completed in December 1998. Covering 500 acres divided into nine independently yet cohesively linked scenic zones, each boasts unique features and immersive charm. Beautiful painted boats, towering memorial archways, and vibrant flowers. Climb the majestic Jingmen Gate Tower for a sweeping view of the base and even the entire Hengdian area. The Bian River winds from east to west through the town, its waters clear and shimmering. Willow trees line the banks, dancing in the breeze, while fish swim visibly in the river. Unique and spectacular bridges, such as the Rainbow Bridge spanning 40 meters, 11.5 meters wide, and 5.8 meters high, make you feel like walking on a rainbow. Architectural sites like Kaifeng Prefecture and Cai Tong’s Mansion feature soaring corners, flowing eaves, and vivid colors that leave you in awe.
Dream Valley: Located within the former Culture Village area of Hengdian World Studios, Dream Valley is integrated with the Jiangnan Water Town scenic area. In Dongyang City, central Zhejiang Province, lies Mount Bamen, only 523 meters above sea level, resembling Japan’s Mount Fuji. Geologists identify it as a volcanic cone that erupted molten lava during the Cenozoic era. Though long dormant, today a 35-meter artificial volcano rises within Dream Valley, a large-scale experiential theme park. Key features include the main entrance, a banyan forest for experiencing primeval jungles, Yadan landforms evoking Western Region vibes, the thrilling “Volcanic Eruption” experience, interactive gaming zones, a pirate’s ghost house, an earthquake science museum, a food street, a time tunnel waterfall connecting Jiangnan Water Town and Culture Village, and the panoramic musical dance magic show Dreamy Tai Chi. The “soul” of Dream Valley, Dreamy Tai Chi, is the world’s largest live volcanic performance. Lasting 45 minutes, it uses multimedia, special effects, stage mechanics, dance, acrobatics, magic, and more, centered around the concepts and visual elements of Tai Chi, the Five Elements, and the Eight Trigrams. It illustrates the harmonious yet conflicting relationships between humans, nature, others, and the self, allowing visitors to effortlessly appreciate traditional culture while experiencing a powerful emotional impact.
Guangzhou Street & Hong Kong Street: Built in 1996 to support director Xie Jin’s epic film The Opium War, Guangzhou Street is the birthplace of Hengdian World Studios. In 1998, Hong Kong Street was added, with crisscrossing ancient roads and the Pearl River running through — authentically recreating the street scenes of 19th-century Guangzhou and Hong Kong. Guangzhou and Hong Kong sit side by side in Hengdian. Guangzhou Street is adorned with artistically reconstructed 19th-century Cantonese cityscapes, a man-made lake representing the Pearl River and inner-city waterways, as well as landmarks like the Thirteen Factories and Tianzi Wharf. It vividly portrays Guangzhou’s street life before and after the Opium War, serving as a “genre painting” for modern tourists to explore Qing-era urban society. Hong Kong Street is designed to take advantage of hilly terrain, featuring landmarks from 19th-century central Hong Kong such as Queen’s Road, the Governor’s Mansion, Victoria Barracks, HSBC, Shanghai Mansion, and Han Garden. Over 30 European-style buildings symbolizing British colonial rule formed the “Victoria City,” the political, economic, and cultural hub of Hong Kong at the time. Its distinctive and captivating scenery attracts newlyweds and film crews alike — hundreds of films have been produced here, including The Opium War, Lurk, Homeward Bound, Yongzheng Dynasty, and Hundred Years of Turbulence. Its unique cultural tourism draws visitors from far and wide.
Ming & Qing Palaces: This massive film and tourism complex, modeled after the Forbidden City and built in 1998, covers 1,500 acres — currently the largest film base in Hengdian World Studios. Replicated 1:1 from the Forbidden City, it references Ming and Qing palace architecture, incorporates ritual systems from the Tang, Song, and Yuan dynasties, and blends Republican-era styles. It encompasses four major architectural series: imperial palaces, royal gardens, mansions and government offices, and hutong residences — authentically recreating official buildings, shops, and palace structures from various historical periods in ancient Beijing. Highlights include Chessboard Street, Chengtianmen Square, Thousand-Pace Corridor, Civil and Military Platforms, Golden Water River, and Jade Belt Bridge. The resplendent imperial palaces, naturally formed garden lakes, magnificent dragon roofs, and grand palace squares make it a must-visit for exploring ancient capitals. Since opening, its ingenious design, majestic architecture, and profound cultural heritage have attracted visitors and film crews nationwide. Over 100 major productions have been filmed here, including Chinese Paladin, Curse of the Golden Flower, War and Beauty, and Royal Tramp. In the age of popular palace dramas, Ming & Qing Palaces remain a top choice — hit shows like Palace, Empresses in the Palace, Deep Palace Spy, and Palace II were all shot here, often bustling with busy actors on set.
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