At Hengdian World Studios, visitors are not content with simply discovering the sets and backlots of their favorite films and series. Since August, these gigantic Chinese filming studios have opened up even more to tourists. Located in eastern China, Hengdian World Studios ranks among the largest cinema and television studios in the world. Many fans rushed to this five-hectare site to visit the numerous sets and the various filming studios.
The management now aims to offer an even more immersive experience. For about 200 yuan per person per hour, or roughly 25 euros, visitors can seize the opportunity to shoot their own short film, according to the South China Morning Post. Aspiring actors can also opt for an all-in-one package including makeup and hairstyling for 388 yuan (approximately 50 euros). There are even packages for families or companies organizing “team-building” events for several hundred euros.
A Strategy to Create a New Line of Business
This new offering is not by accident. In 2025, Hengdian World Studios swapped long traditional productions for short-form series, in vertical format, according to China National Radio. If this transition had enabled the recruitment of 4,000 technicians and recorded an annual growth of 237%, this phase would have been only temporary since most of the new dramatic shorts produced in the first quarter of this year were made thanks to artificial intelligence. Our colleagues mention “significant unemployment” for the people employed at Hengdian.
The arrival of AI has drastically reduced the activity of many directors. Opening up filmmaking to tourists thus allows filmmakers to regain work. While some directors had only a handful of series episodes to shoot, some can now produce up to 20 short films per day.
What Type of Short Film Are Tourists Looking For?
While the South China Morning Post does not reveal precise figures regarding the rise in attendance and studio activity since the private shooting offer was opened to individuals, some visitors do not seem to be solely looking for entertainment.
The plot that most captivates tourists is one in which a character comes across as arrogant, only to be astonished by the protagonist’s strength of character. Wu Yizhuo, a director who spoke with China Newsweek, sees these scenes as “a quest for emotional value”.
