High-speed rail (bullet train)
- Shanghai Hongqiao→HengdianAbout 2.5 hours each way; same-day round trip
Watching a costume drama, have you ever wanted to play a part yourself?
After “Empresses in the Palace” or “Story of Yanxi Palace”, what stays with you is the phoenix crowns, the dragon robes and the white marble steps you climb one by one; after a wuxia film, you've imagined running along rooftops and drawing a sword. But at the Forbidden City in Beijing you can only look on from behind a barrier — no costumes, no filming, and certainly no starring role. Hengdian is different. It's one of China's largest film and television production bases, nicknamed “Chinawood”, and the Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties was built using the Forbidden City as its model — the very place where those Qing court dramas were shot. Today you're not just visiting a film set. You're here to act.
Never acted before? That's fine
Hair, makeup, costumes and filming are all handled for you, and you take the finished film home
Professional styling in one go
A makeup artist does your face and hair for the role you've chosen, and your costume is fitted from head to toe. For a lot of people, that first look in the mirror is unrecognisable.
Real palaces and real sets
The red walls, gilded roofs and white marble steps are the places Qing court dramas actually filmed — not a green screen in a studio.
Someone to walk you into the scene
The crew tells you where to walk, when to turn your head, how to draw the sword. Your guide is beside you handling the language, so communication isn't a problem.
Take home a short film starring you
What you shoot becomes your own costume film, ready to send to family and friends or post on social media — a travel memento that's hard to reproduce anywhere else.
Today, who do you want to be?
Costumes, hair and makeup and sets are all ready. You just pick a role.
Emperor and empress
Dragon robe, phoenix crown, throne — the moment you sit down, the whole palace is yours. Good for couples, or for anyone who fancies a turn as “We, the Emperor”.
Qing court consort
The banner headdress, the platform shoes, the embroidered court robe — the exact look that stepped straight out of “Story of Yanxi Palace”. Glance back against the red wall, glide down the long corridor.
Wuxia hero
A long robe, a sword. Leap, trade blows, strike the standoff pose before the duel — live out the martial arts dream you've had since childhood.
Hanfu scholar and beauty
Wide sleeves, crossed collar, robes floating as you move, as if stepping out of an old painting. If acting isn't for you, you can still shoot a set of photos and a short film with the most Chinese feel of anything you'll take home.
Your itinerary
Timings below assume a Shanghai departure and are for reference; actual train times depend on the tickets issued. Departures from Zhejiang are adjusted to your starting point.
-
A private car collects you from your hotel and takes you to Shanghai Hongqiao Station, with your guide travelling alongside. Train tickets are booked in advance using your passport details.
-
About 2.5 hours to Hengdian Station, where a local private car waits outside and drives you straight to the studios.
-
Grab some snacks for lunch, then follow the central axis through the complex while your guide points out which dramas were filmed where. While you walk, decide where you want to be on camera: which red wall, which flight of steps.
-
Makeup and costume, role chosen, and your short film shot on location in the palace grounds. The evening light is the best of the day for costume footage.
-
Change back into your own clothes and take the evening high-speed train back, reaching Shanghai Hongqiao around 21:35, where a private car returns 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 travelers, 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, about 13 hours, including roughly 5 hours of high-speed rail round trip
Departure Available from Shanghai or Zhejiang, with hotel pickup and drop-off; the timings shown assume a Shanghai departure
Group type Private tour, from 1 traveler (solo travelers, 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 — high-speed rail and the scenic area both require names registered to each traveler
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 run into one
Included
- Private car between your hotel and the high-speed rail station
- Round-trip high-speed rail tickets
- Local transport in Hengdian
- Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties entrance tickets
- Period-costume styling and short-film shoot
- Snack lunch
- Guide throughout
Not included
- Dinner
- Other paid attractions inside the scenic area
- Personal expenses
- Gratuities
At the Forbidden City you watch. At Hengdian you act.
For cultural relics, go to the Forbidden City in Beijing; to be the lead, come to Hengdian World Studios
- Beijing's Forbidden City is the real palace and its relics; Hengdian's Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties is a palace city built for filming, using the Forbidden City as its model
- At the Forbidden City you can't change costume or set up equipment; at Hengdian, costuming, lighting and filming are the everyday business
- At the Forbidden City you look on from behind a barrier; at Hengdian, someone does your makeup and costume and runs the camera for you
- At the Forbidden City you're in the audience; at Hengdian, you're the lead
Decided who you're playing? Leave the rest to us
Tell us where you're starting from (Shanghai or Zhejiang), your dates, how many people are travelling and which role you'd like to play, and we'll confirm the train tickets and styling slots. English and Chinese guides as standard; other languages on request in advance.
Ask us- From $522 per person
- Departs Shanghai or Zhejiang
- Entrance tickets and styling included
- From 1 traveler
Frequently asked questions
I've never acted and I don't speak Chinese. Is that a problem?
Not at all. The crew walks you through where to go and what to do step by step, and your guide is beside you the whole time handling the language. All you have to do is enjoy it.
Can we play the emperor or empress, or shoot something wuxia?
Yes. Qing court dress (emperor, empress, consort), swordsman's costume and hanfu are all available, and you choose the role you want on site.
Is Hengdian's Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties the same as the Forbidden City?
No. The Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties was built using Beijing's Forbidden City as its model, as a studio base for shooting costume dramas — it isn't a heritage site. Which is exactly why costumes and filming are possible here.
How long does it take to get to Hengdian from Shanghai?
Shanghai Hongqiao to Hengdian Station is about 2.5 hours on a direct high-speed train. On a Shanghai departure we collect you from your hotel around 08:30 and return you after 21:30; from Zhejiang, everything is arranged around your departure point.
Can we start from Zhejiang?
Yes. We depart from either Shanghai or Zhejiang and pick you up at your hotel; train times and departure times are rearranged around where you're starting from, and the times on this page assume a Shanghai departure.
Why does the price per person go down when more people come?
The private car and guide are arranged for the group as a whole, so the more people travelling together, the less each person pays. Three and four people pay the same rate; five or more get the best per-person price.
Can we bring children?
Yes. Children can get into costume and appear on camera too, and plenty of families act out a scene together. Please ask us about child pricing.
Are children welcome?
Yes. Children can also change into costumes and appear in front of the camera, and many families enjoy acting out a scene together. Please contact customer service for information on children’s pricing.