Xiangshan Filmstudio

Xiangshan Global Studios is one of eastern China's largest film and television production bases, a sprawling open-air studio complex on the Xiangshan peninsula south of Ningbo. Built as a working set for Chinese historical dramas, it has hosted the filming of many well-known costume and martial-arts series, and parts of it remain an active production site. For travelers who love Chinese television and cinema, it offers the rare chance to step directly into the world of these shows.

The studio is divided into themed zones that recreate different periods of Chinese history. One area reproduces a Song-dynasty city with tiled-roof houses, bustling market streets, and ancient bridges; another is built around the legendary jianghu world of wandering heroes, complete with fortress walls, cliff-top temples, and martial-arts arenas; a third evokes the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods with fortified palaces and bronze-age cityscapes. Walking between these zones feels like time travel, as the architecture, signage, and street life shift from one era to the next.

What makes the visit especially fun are the live performances and interactive experiences. Stunt shows, horse-riding battles, traditional music, and dance are staged through the day, and visitors can rent costumes, pose with prop weapons, and take photos in the atmospheric sets. If a production is filming during your visit, you may catch crews at work and, with luck, glimpse actors between scenes. Themed restaurants and snack stalls serve food that fits the period setting, adding to the immersive mood.

Xiangshan Global Studios is a full-day destination in its own right, and it pairs well with a visit to the nearby Shipu Fishing Port or a coastal seafood meal. It is busiest on weekends and Chinese public holidays, when live shows draw bigger crowds; a weekday visit offers more relaxed exploring and better photo opportunities. Comfortable shoes are essential given the size of the site. For travelers curious about Chinese popular culture, or anyone who enjoys a lively, theatrical day out, the studios are one of the most distinctive and entertaining trips out of Ningbo.