HENGDIAN 横店 3D2N
We took the train from Hangzhou West station to Hengdian Station (around 45mins), and then took the didi to our hotel!
We stayed at Hampton by Hilton Hengdian
Location was next to a small mall, and the rooms were clean and spacious too! I loved the shower, the water pressure was so strong! I think it’s the best shower I’ve ever had in a hotel.
After check in, we went to lunch at 📍 憶廟街x沙角邨旗艦店 which was near to our hotel! HK char chan teng food for lunch, and it was pretty good!
Tickets for Hengdian World Studio:
We got the 3 day tickets via trip.com! During your first entry to any of the studios, just need to register with your passport and face at the turnstiles! Afterwards, you can just enter via facial recognition!
Tips:
- You can search up the programme list on 小程序 (节目时间表) to plan your visits!
- Join the WeChat groups on updates for the programmes (sometimes they might be cancelled or changed due to weather) you can ask questions in the chat and they will reply you too!
- You can find maps of the studio in the group chats!
After lunch, we headed to 清明上河图
This studio was opened till late, so do come in the late evening!
We were there around 5pm, so we went in and explore the place!
At 6pm, there was a parade for the NPCs (全民大巡游)
They were just dancing and interacting with the guests and it was really fun to watch! This studio had the most amount of NPCs that you can interact with, so it’s perfect for the extroverts!
After the parade, there were also multiple places where you can act out screenplays with the NPC, so it was really funny to watch them act out the scripts! You can earn 片酬 that can be exchanged for items at the gift shop! Pretty interesting experience!
We had a simple dinner at the shops within the studio - lok lok and their local KFC brand. The studio was really pretty with all the lights at night!
The highlight was the show at 8.30pm (烟火人间)! It was a performance of 打铁花 🎇 and even performing on the flyboard! It was a really great performance! Do go early to grab a good spot of the performance~
The next day, we went to 明清宫苑 in the morning!
We wanted to watch the 公主大婚, but due to the rain, it was changed to the indoor performance (紫禁大典) - all informed via the WeChat group! The performance was about the Qing Dynasty, which was pretty nice to watch!
Thankfully the weather cleared up after and we watched the 八旗马战! The show was really fun to watch and they showed off so many tricks on the horse!
The area was really big so we rented the little buggy that you can drive around! It was CNY 180 for 3 hours, we had exceed the time but they didn’t charge extra too!
We had a simple lunch in the studio and then headed to Hengdian World Studios-Qin Palace
This studio wasn’t too big, so there wasn’t a need to rent any buggy. Most places had to be accessed via steps, so there was no need for the buggy! Also, it’s linked to 清明上河图 so you can do the two studios together!
This was the filming location for 陈情令 (the main drama that started my cdrama era) and there were a lot of other dramas filmed here too! The iconic steps was also where Yixing filmed his 莲 video!
We missed the timing to watch 英雄比剑 but they had a 4D ride 龙帝惊临 and it was really fun! Similar to the transformers ride in USS!
We didn’t spend much time here cause it was really small!
Afterwards we headed to 横店广州街香港街
It wasn’t planned, but we headed there since we had time, and it was opened till late at night!
We rented the buggy as we were lazy to walk around 😛 it was CNY 150 for this buggy!
The studio also wasn’t too big, but it looked really nice at night with the lights lit up at night! Really giving the old HK/GZ vibes.
We had a simple dinner there, while waiting for the 7.30pm show (走进电影) It was really cool, as they used the whole studio as the backdrop for the performance! Basically, the scenarios will be carried out at one area, and everyone would move together to the next area together for the next scenario! There was so much going on, even like guns, fighting and all like a HK movie! Really fun way to watch a performance instead of simply watching it from the chair!
Since we had booked for 3 days ticket, we wanted to go to 横店圆明新园春苑 the next day, but decided it was too rushed as we had to head to Suzhou and the studio was further out!
I would say that you can complete most studios within 2 days? We didn’t go to 横店国际马戏城(原梦外滩) as it was a replica of Shanghai Bund and we’ve been there before.
It was definitely fun for the c-drama fans to see the filming sites! But I didn’t bother with chasing the stars or heading to the actual makeup studio/filming sites. There wasn’t much to do outside of these studios as well! So I think 3D2N is perfect!
Next up, Suzhou!
Visiting Hengdian World Studios offers a truly unique experience, especially for fans of Chinese dramas and film culture. What makes Hengdian stand out is its vastness and the immersive environment that brings historical and modern cinematic worlds to life. Having spent three days exploring the studios, I found that planning is key to getting the most out of your visit. When you arrive by train from Hangzhou West Station to Hengdian Station, the local transport options like Didi taxis make it easy to reach your hotel and the studio entrances. Staying at a nearby hotel like the Hampton by Hilton Hengdian not only offers comfort but also great accessibility as it’s close to a mall and local eateries. The high water pressure in hotel showers was an unexpected delight after long days of sightseeing! One of the highlights was the ability to use facial recognition for entry after the first registration, which sped up access to different studios. I highly recommend joining the WeChat groups related to the studios because they provide up-to-date information on showtimes, weather changes, and maps—making it easy to adjust plans on the fly. The 清明上河图 (Qingming Riverside Scene) studio is especially captivating in the evening with its lively parade of NPCs (non-player characters) that interact with visitors. This interactive element adds a playful dynamic, perfect for extroverts who enjoy engaging with performers. Plus, acting out mini screenplays with NPCs and earning rewards adds an extra layer of fun that sets Hengdian apart from traditional theme parks. Don’t miss the 8.30pm show “烟火人间,” featuring the spectacular iron flower performance and flyboard acts that bring a thrilling end to the day. Watching the 八旗马战 (Eight Banners Horse Battle) at 明清宫苑 on a clear day was also memorable, especially with the stunt-filled equestrian display. For fans of C-drama, visiting Hengdian World Studios-Qin Palace is like stepping into your favorite shows, including the iconic 陈情令 (The Untamed). Spotting where stars like Yixing filmed popular music videos adds to the excitement. While this studio is smaller and easier to navigate without a vehicle, the 4D ride 龙帝惊临 is a fun, immersive experience comparable to well-known theme park attractions. In addition, exploring the 横店广州街香港街 (Guangzhou Street and Hong Kong Street) area by buggy at night reveals charming old-city atmospheres lit up vividly. The walk-through show 走进电影 actively involves viewers in the storyline, combining action and performance uniquely. Overall, a 3-day, 2-night itinerary perfectly balances time to see most studios without feeling rushed. Hengdian World Studios is ideal for immersing in Chinese film culture, historical recreations, and interactive entertainment, making it a must-visit for both drama enthusiasts and casual tourists alike.
