High-speed rail (bullet train)
- Shanghai Hongqiao→HengdianAbout 2.5 hours each way; same-day round trip
Watching a costume drama, don't you want to play a part yourself?
After working your way through Empresses in the Palace and Story of Yanxi Palace, what stays with you are the phoenix crowns, the imperial robes and those white marble steps you walk up one by one; after a wuxia film, you've imagined yourself leaping across rooftops and drawing a sword. But at the Forbidden City in Beijing you can only look from behind the barrier — no costume changes, no filming, and certainly no starring role. Hengdian is different. It's one of China's largest film and television production bases, nicknamed 'China's Hollywood', and the Palace of Ming and Qing Dynasty was built using the Forbidden City as its model; those Qing court dramas were shot right here. Today you're not just visiting a film set — you're here to act.
Never acted before? That's fine
Someone helps with make-up, costume changes and filming — and you take the finished film home
Professional styling, done in one go
A make-up artist does your face and hair to match the role you've chosen, and the costume is fitted from head to toe. When you look in the mirror afterwards, many people don't recognise themselves.
Real palaces and real film sets
Red walls, golden roofs, white marble steps — all places where Qing court dramas were genuinely shot, not a green screen in a studio.
Someone to guide you into the role
The film crew tells you where to walk, when to turn your head, how to draw the sword. Your guide is on hand to interpret, so language is no problem.
Take home a short film starring you
What you shoot becomes your own costume drama — send it to family and friends, or post it on social media. It's a travel memento that's hard to replicate anywhere else.
Today, who do you want to play?
The costumes, hair and make-up, and sets are all ready — all you have to do is pick a role.
Emperor and empress
Imperial robe, phoenix crown, throne — the moment you sit down, the whole palace is yours. Ideal for couples, or for anyone who fancies a taste of 'We, the Emperor'.
Qing palace consort
A banner headdress, platform shoes and an embroidered court gown — the very outfit that steps out of Story of Yanxi Palace. Glance back against the red wall, glide along the long corridor.
Wuxia hero
A long robe, a sword. Leap, trade blows, strike the stand-off pose before a duel — live out the martial arts dream you've had since childhood.
Hanfu scholar and beauty
Wide sleeves, crossed collars, robes floating as you move — as if you'd stepped out of an old painting. If you'd rather not act out a big scene, you can still shoot a set of photos and a short film with a real Chinese feel.
Your itinerary
Taking a Shanghai departure as the example; times are indicative and train times are subject to the tickets issued. Departures from Zhejiang are adjusted to your starting point.
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A private car picks you up at your hotel and takes you to Shanghai Hongqiao Station, with your guide alongside. Tickets are booked in advance using your passport details.
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About 2.5 hours to Hengdian Station, where a local private car waits outside and drives you straight to the studios.
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Grab some snacks for lunch, walk the central axis from end to end, and let your guide tell you which drama was filmed where. While you're at it, decide where you want to appear on camera: which red wall, which flight of steps.
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Make-up and costume, pick your role, and shoot your short film on the real palace sets. The late-afternoon light is the best of the day for period costume.
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Change back into your own clothes and take an evening high-speed train home, arriving at Shanghai Hongqiao around 21:35, where a private car takes you to your hotel. Dinner isn't included.
Getting around
Intercity travel
Private car with driver
5-seat private car
- Shanghai hotel ⇄ Hongqiao Station transfers
7-seat private car
- Shanghai hotel ⇄ Hongqiao Station transfers
- Hengdian: private car for the day
With 2–3 travellers, your guide arranges taxis locally in Hengdian; for 6 or more, ask us about vehicles.
Priced by group size
A private trip for you and your companions only. The car and guide are booked per group, so the more of you travel, the less each person pays.
Before you go
Duration One day, around 13 hours, including about 5 hours of high-speed rail there and back
Departure From Shanghai or Zhejiang, with hotel pickup and drop-off; the timings shown are for a Shanghai departure
Group type Private tour, from 1 traveller (solo travellers, please ask us first); 6 or more pay the 5-person rate
Guide English and Chinese as standard; German, French, Spanish, Italian and others on request in advance
Documents Please bring your original passport — both high-speed rail and the scenic area require names registered to the traveller
Costumes Hanfu, Qing court dress, swordsman's costume and more, chosen on site
Film crews Productions are often shooting at the studios, but we can't guarantee you'll come across one
Included
- Private car between your hotel and the high-speed rail station
- Return high-speed rail tickets
- Local car in Hengdian
- Palace of Ming and Qing Dynasty entrance ticket
- Period costume styling and short-film shoot
- Snack lunch
- Guide throughout
Not included
- Dinner
- Other paid attractions inside the studios
- Personal expenses
- Gratuities
At the Forbidden City you can only look — at Hengdian you can act
To see cultural relics, go to the Forbidden City in Beijing; to be the star, come to Hengdian World Studios
- The Forbidden City is a genuine palace and collection of relics; Hengdian's Palace of Ming and Qing Dynasty is a walled palace built for filming, modelled on it
- At the Forbidden City you can't change costume or set up filming equipment; at Hengdian, costume changes, lighting and filming are everyday business
- At the Forbidden City you look from behind a barrier; at Hengdian someone does your make-up and costume and works the camera
- At the Forbidden City you're a spectator; at Hengdian you're the star
Decided who you're playing? We'll take care of the rest
Tell us where you're starting from (Shanghai or Zhejiang), your dates, how many people are travelling and the role you'd like to play, and we'll confirm the tickets and styling slots. English and Chinese guides are standard; other languages on request in advance.
Ask us- From £393 per person
- Departs Shanghai or Zhejiang
- Tickets and styling included
- From 1 traveller
Frequently asked questions
I can't act and I don't speak Chinese — is that a problem?
Not at all. The film crew tells you step by step where to walk and how to move, and your guide interprets throughout. All you have to do is enjoy yourself.
Can I play an emperor or empress, or shoot a wuxia scene?
Yes. Qing court dress (emperor, empress, consort), swordsman's costume and hanfu are all available — choose the role you want on site.
Is Hengdian's Palace of Ming and Qing Dynasty the same as the Forbidden City in Beijing?
No. The Palace of Ming and Qing Dynasty was built using the Forbidden City as its model, as a production base for period dramas rather than a collection of relics. That's exactly why costume changes and filming are possible here.
How long does Hengdian take to reach from Shanghai?
It's about 2.5 hours by direct high-speed rail from Shanghai Hongqiao to Hengdian Station. Taking a Shanghai departure as the example, we pick you up at your hotel around 08:30 and drop you back after 21:30; departures from Zhejiang are arranged around your starting point.
Can we set off from Zhejiang?
Yes. We depart from both Shanghai and Zhejiang and pick you up at the hotel you're staying in; train times and departure times are rearranged around your starting point, and the times on this page use a Shanghai departure as the example.
Why does the price per person drop as the group gets bigger?
The private car and guide are arranged for the group as a whole, so the more of you travelling together, the less each person pays. 3 to 4 people pay the same rate; from 5 people upwards the per-person price is at its lowest.
Can children join in?
Yes. Children can dress up and appear on camera too, and plenty of families act out a scene together. Please ask us about child pricing.
Can children take part?
Yes. Children are also welcome to join in costume and appear on stage; many families enjoy acting out a scene together. For child rates, please contact our customer service team.