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The Qin Wang Palace of the Hengdian World Studios in Dongyang, Zhejiang
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Hengdian Travel Guide — the Qin Wang Palace, the Ming-Qing Palaces, Dream Valley and the sets of a thousand films

Hengdian - the 'China Hollywood' - is a 96-square-kilometre film city in Dongyang, Jinhua, where the Qin Shi Huang palaces, the 1:1 Forbidden City, the Song-dynasty riverside town and the Hong Kong Street have hosted more than 600 films and 3,000 TV series since 1996. The sets are working studios and open theme parks at once: the Qin Wang Palace (RMB 95), the Ming-Qing Palaces (RMB 100), the Qingming Riverside Scene (Song town), the Dream Valley night park (RMB 198 combined ticket) and the shows that run through each day. This guide carries the tickets, the show times, the hotels, the restaurants, the bus lines from Yiwu and Hangzhou and the practical numbers from the field guide, so you can plan it yourself or have our team arrange it end to end.

HengdianHengdian World StudiosQin Wang PalaceMing-Qing PalacesDream ValleyChina HollywoodDongyangJinhua
1-2 DaysOne day covers two or three sets and a night show; two days cover the classic circuit and Dream Valley
RMB 95-198Qin Wang Palace RMB 95, Ming-Qing Palaces RMB 100, Dream Valley combined RMB 198
Year-RoundThe sets and shows run every day; spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons
Free Booking HelpHotels, tickets & tours by our team
What's inside this guide Bucket List · Highlights · Q&A · Itineraries · Attractions · Activities · Where to Stay · Food · Getting Around · Shopping · Practical Info · Day Trips · Tips · Background · Plan Your Trip

Hengdian Bucket Listthe palaces, the shows and the night park

01

Storm the Qin Wang Palace

The Qin Shi Huang palace of the film sets - RMB 95, 8:00-16:30, with the 'Hero vs Sword' and 'Dream Back to Qin' shows and the long ramps of the epic films.

02

Walk the 1:1 Forbidden City

The Ming-Qing Palaces are a full-scale Forbidden City at RMB 100 - the Bannerman Horse Show at 9:00 and 14:00 and the Qing Palace Secrets at 10:00 and 15:00.

03

Glide the Qingming riverside town

The Song-dynasty town built from the 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival' scroll - the Bianliang Dream and the Laughing at the Heavenly Gate shows among the painted streets.

04

Ride the Dream Valley night

The combined RMB 198 ticket opens the night park - the Downpour and the Dream of Taiji water shows are the two great evenings of Hengdian.

05

See the Jinghua Culture Park

The RMB 95 park with the 'Yearning for China' show and the replicas of the great halls - the quietest of the big sets.

06

Night walk the Hong Kong Street

The Guangzhou Street-Hong Kong Street set with the Flying Phoenix and the Angry Waves shows - the lanterns and the old shop signs come alive after dark.

Top Highlightsthe sets that made the films

No.1Qin Wang Palace

Qin Wang Palace

The ramps and halls of the Qin epic.

No.2The Ming-Qing Palaces

The Ming-Qing Palaces

The 1:1 Forbidden City of the screen.

No.3The Qin hall interior

The Qin hall interior

The throne hall of the warlord epics.

No.4The studio city gate

The studio city gate

The gate that opened a thousand shoots.

Questions & Answerswhat travellers always ask about Hengdian

How many days do I need in Hengdian?

One day covers two or three sets and a night show; two days allow the full circuit - Qin Wang Palace, Ming-Qing Palaces, the Qingming town, the Jinghua Park and Dream Valley.

Which sets are the must-sees?

The Qin Wang Palace (RMB 95), the Ming-Qing Palaces (RMB 100) and the Dream Valley night park (RMB 198 combined) are the three signature stops; the Qingming town and the Hong Kong Street follow.

How do I get to Hengdian?

From Yiwu, take the K805 train to the Yiwu station then the Jiangdong coach terminal bus (30 minutes); from Hangzhou, the direct South Station coach costs RMB 64; the Xiaoshan airport coaches run at 10:30, 13:10 and 16:30 (+86 579 8669 0371).

When do the shows run?

The Bannerman Horse Show runs at 9:00 and 14:00 at the Ming-Qing Palaces, the Qing Palace Secrets at 10:00 and 15:00; the Dream Valley night shows start after dark - check the boards at the gates.

Is Dream Valley worth the combined ticket?

Yes - the RMB 198 combined ticket covers the whole night park and the two water shows, Downpour and Dream of Taiji; it is the signature evening of Hengdian.

Where can I see the stars?

The sets film almost daily - the crews and the actors are part of the scenery; the 'Hengdian' extras (about 7,500 registered) crowd the casting streets beside the sets.

Can ToursChinaTravel arrange my Hengdian trip?

Yes - email [email protected] or message us on WhatsApp. Our team books the tickets, the Dream Valley passes, the shows and the hotels, free of charge and without obligation.

Sample Itinerariesthe palace day and the full classic circuit

Time Travel - One Day

Qin Wang Palace, the Ming-Qing Palaces, the Qingming town and the Dream Valley night - the whole of the film city in a day. View the plan →

Day 1

08:30 the Qin Wang Palace (RMB 95); 11:00 the Ming-Qing Palaces (RMB 100) with the 14:00 Bannerman Horse Show; 16:00 the Qingming Riverside Scene town; 18:30 the Dream Valley (RMB 198 combined) for the night water shows.

Hengdian Classic - Two Days

The palaces, the parks and the quiet sets at a proper pace. View the plan →

Day 1

Morning the Qin Wang Palace; afternoon the Guangzhou Street-Hong Kong Street with the Flying Phoenix show; night the Dream Valley water shows.

Day 2

Morning the Ming-Qing Palaces with the Bannerman Horse Show; afternoon the Qingming Riverside Scene and the Jinghua Culture Park; evening the Wansheng food street.

All plans are bookable end-to-end by our team — see the full day-by-day Hengdian itineraries hub, or the day-trip pages for single-day options.

Top Attractionstickets, hours, transport & insider tips

Qin Wang Palace

Qin Wang Palace

The Qin Shi Huang palace of the film epics - RMB 95, 8:00-16:30, +86 579 8655 6828; the 'Hero vs Sword' and 'Dream Back to Qin' shows run through the day.

RMB 95 · 08:00-16:30 · Film Set · Palace
View details →
Ming-Qing Palaces

Ming-Qing Palaces

The 1:1 replica of the Forbidden City - RMB 100; the Bannerman Horse Show at 9:00 and 14:00, the Qing Palace Secrets at 10:00 and 15:00.

RMB 100 · 08:00-16:30 · Forbidden City · Film Set
View details →
Qingming Riverside Scene

Qingming Riverside Scene

The Song-dynasty town built from the 12th-century scroll - the Bianliang Dream and the Laughing at the Heavenly Gate shows among the painted streets and the water mills.

Not published · 08:00-16:30 · Song Dynasty · Film Set
View details →
Dream Valley

Dream Valley

The night theme park with the two great water shows - the Downpour and the Dream of Taiji; the combined RMB 198 ticket opens the whole park after dark.

RMB 198 · 16:00-21:00 · Night Show · Theme Park
View details →
Jinghua Culture Park

Jinghua Culture Park

The RMB 95 park with the 'Yearning for China' show and the replicas of the great Chinese halls - the quietest of the big sets.

RMB 95 · 08:00-16:30 · Culture Park · Show
View details →
Guangzhou Street & Hong Kong Street

Guangzhou Street & Hong Kong Street

The 19th-century trading port set with the Flying Phoenix and the Angry Waves stunt shows - the lanterns and the old shop signs come alive at night.

Not published · 08:00-21:00 · Old Streets · Film Set
View details →
Dazhi Temple

Dazhi Temple

The working temple with the 45-metre hall and the 28.88-metre Buddha - RMB 20; the incense hall of the film city.

RMB 20 · 08:00-17:00 · Temple · Buddha
View details →
Pingyan Cave

Pingyan Cave

The 'first cave of Jiangnan' with the cableway above the town - the cave temples and the valley views; the cable car is extra.

Not published · 08:00-17:00 · Cave · Cableway
View details →

More in the region on the Zhejiang attractions page.

Activities & Festivalsthe shows and the star-hunting

Bianliang Dream

The grand Song-dynasty stage show of the Qingming Riverside Scene - the scroll brought to life on the water stage.

Bannerman Horse Show

The cavalry stunt show of the Ming-Qing Palaces at 9:00 and 14:00 - the Qing banners and the horse work of the epics.

Downpour (Bao Yu Shan Hong)

The Dream Valley water show of the night - the village, the storm and the flood staged on the great basin.

Dream of Taiji

The second Dream Valley night show - the taiji symbol, the fire and the water of the Daoist finale.

Star Spotting

The sets film almost daily - watch the crews at work from the walkways; the extras' union crowds the lanes beside the gates at dawn.

Where to Stayhostels and hotels inside the studio town

Every hotel below is bookable by our team; browse the full Zhejiang hotels directory.

Rongyi Youth Hostel

The popular hostel at 8 Jinling Street, 288 Kangzhuang South Road - from RMB 99; +86 579 8665 1177.

Phone: +86 579 8665 1177 · Book: Zhejiang hotels · or email [email protected]

Bianjing Hotel

The comfortable hotel in the town - from RMB 180; +86 579 8655 5511.

Phone: +86 579 8655 5511 · Book: Zhejiang hotels · or email [email protected]

Guomao Hotel

The business hotel at 18 Kangzhuang South Road - from RMB 230; +86 579 8654 8222.

Phone: +86 579 8654 8222 · Book: Zhejiang hotels · or email [email protected]

Tourism Hotel (Lvyou Dasha)

The central hotel at 1 Wansheng South Street - from RMB 220; +86 579 8658 0000.

Phone: +86 579 8658 0000 · Book: Zhejiang hotels · or email [email protected]

Xinghe Hotel

The hotel at 88 Wansheng North Street - from RMB 200; +86 579 8601 1188.

Phone: +86 579 8601 1188 · Book: Zhejiang hotels · or email [email protected]

Food & Restaurantsthe food street and the local kitchens

Wansheng Food Street

The night street of the town - hotpots, lamb skewers, the big-plate chicken and the local Dongyang dishes until late.

Da Cheng Xiao Chu

The small kitchen at 51 Baxian Street - the homestyle Zhejiang cooking; mobile +86 137 0679 5049.

Phone: +86 137 0679 5049

Old Dongyang Noodle House

The noodle shop of the town - the hand-pulled Dongyang noodles and the braised pork.

Jinhua Ham & the local snacks

The Jinhua ham, the Dongyang woodcarving markets and the sweet rice sausages - the taste of the region on every corner.

Shopping & Souvenirsham, woodcarving and the film souvenirs

Jinhua Ham

The famous cured ham of the region - the sweet-smoked Jinhua ham is the classic gift, sold across the town.

Dongyang Woodcarving

The carved screens, boxes and panels of the Dongyang craftsmen - the workshops line the town streets.

Glutinous Rice Sausage

The local sweet sausage of Dongyang - a snack to eat on the spot.

Film Souvenirs

The prop shops and the costume rentals of the sets - the Qin swords and the Qing gowns of the films.

Full local-product guides live on the Zhejiang specialties page.

Getting There & Aroundby air, rail and coach to the studio town

By airBy air

By air

The nearest airports are Yiwu (the Jiangdong coach terminal bus, 30 minutes) and Hangzhou Xiaoshan - the Xiaoshan coaches run at 10:30, 13:10 and 16:30 (+86 579 8669 0371).

By trainBy train

By train

The K805 stops at Yiwu station, then the Jiangdong terminal bus takes about an hour; the Hangzhou South Station coach to Hengdian is RMB 64.

By coachThe coaches arrive at the Hengdian coach station - the Yiwu Jiangdong buses run through the day; from Hangzhou about 2.5 hours.

The coaches arrive at the Hengdian coach station - the Yiwu Jiangdong buses run through the day; from Hangzhou about 2.5 hours.

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By studio busBy studio bus

By studio bus

The tourist buses run the sets at RMB 1 per ride, every 15 minutes from the town centre - the easy way between the palaces.

By taxiA taxi across the studio town is within RMB 10 - the quick hop between the gates.

A taxi across the studio town is within RMB 10 - the quick hop between the gates.

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Day Trips From Hengdianthe palaces, the park and the town

Qin Wang & Ming-Qing Palaces Day Trip

Qin Wang & Ming-Qing Palaces Day Trip

The two great palaces and the horse show in a day.

Dream Valley Night Day Trip

Dream Valley Night Day Trip

The night park and the two water shows after dark.

Yiwu Market Day Trip

Yiwu Market Day Trip

The world commodity market an hour from the studios.

Travel Tipsthings to remember

Buy the combined passes

The Ming-Qing Palaces and the Dream Valley sell combined tickets - if you plan both, ask at the box office before buying separately.

Time the horse show

The Bannerman Horse Show at the Ming-Qing Palaces runs at 9:00 and 14:00 - arrive 20 minutes early for a seat in the stands.

Night belongs to Dream Valley

The sets close at 16:30 but Dream Valley runs to 21:00 - the water shows are the only night life of Hengdian.

Eat at Wansheng

The food street is cheaper and livelier than the set restaurants - the hotpot and the skewers are the local way.

Watch the extras

The registered 'Hengdian extras' number about 7,500 - their casting lanes and the morning calls are part of the film-city experience.

Practical Informationbanks, hospitals, emergencies and local help

Hengdian tourism enquiry

The tourism information line of the studio town.

Phone: +86 579 8654 7211

Hengdian Group Hospital

The hospital at 1 Medical Road.

Phone: +86 579 8655 2120

Hengdian Post Office

The post office at 146 Qianjin Avenue.

Phone: Not published

Hengdian World Studios website

The official site with the show schedules: hengdianworld.com.

Phone: Not published

Background & Historythe village that became the studios

From village to studios

Hengdian was a farming town until 1996, when the first set was built for a historical film - the 'China Hollywood' grew to 96 square kilometres of studios.

A thousand productions

More than 600 films and 3,000 TV series have shot here - the palatial epics, the wuxia sagas and the Qing court dramas of the Chinese screen.

The extras’ army

About 7,500 registered extras live in the town - the 'Hengpiao' crowd the casting streets at dawn, the same way the extras of Hollywood fill the studios.

The 1:1 Forbidden City

The Ming-Qing Palaces replicate the Forbidden City at full scale - the imperial dramas shoot on the same ramps the tourists walk today.

Plan Your Hengdian Tripattractions, hotels, flights and specialties — all in one place

Everything on ToursChinaTravel is bookable through our team by email or WhatsApp. Here's where each part of your Hengdian trip lives on the site.

Zhejiang Attractions

Zhejiang Attractions

Star-rated sight details — hours, tickets, phones and tips for every Zhejiang attraction.

Browse Zhejiang sights
Hengdian Hotels

Hengdian Hotels

Star-rated hotels across Zhejiang — sorted by rating, all bookable by our team.

Book a Zhejiang hotel
Flights & Trains

Flights & Trains

Routes, airlines and schedules for flights and rail to Hengdian.

See China flights
Zhejiang Specialties

Zhejiang Specialties

Local products, crafts and foods of Zhejiang — where to find each one.

Browse Zhejiang specialties
Zhejiang Travel Agencies

Zhejiang Travel Agencies

Licensed agencies with addresses, phones and booking contacts.

Find a Zhejiang agency
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