Ambition and History Meet in China's Hollywood
The size of Paramount and Universal Studios combined, Hengdian in southern China is the world's largest film studio.
In just 10 years, Hengdian has transformed itself from a poverty-stricken farming village to a collection of replica palaces, temples and historical streets, open to film crews, often for free.
A life-size reproduction of Beijing's Forbidden City — home to China's emperors — is just one of Hengdian's 18 sets. TV series, commercials and some of China's most famous movies — such as Zhang Yimou's Hero and Chen Kaige's The Promise — have been filmed there.
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In just 10 years, Hengdian has transformed itself from a poverty-stricken farming village to a collection of replica palaces, temples and historical streets, open to film crews, often for free.
A life-size reproduction of Beijing's Forbidden City — home to China's emperors — is just one of Hengdian's 18 sets. TV series, commercials and some of China's most famous movies — such as Zhang Yimou's Hero and Chen Kaige's The Promise — have been filmed there.