The so-called Chinese Hollywood features ancient streets and Qing Dynasty houses.

A Chinese Hollywood is under construction just 50km north of Beijing. In about a year’s time, Huairou District north of the capital hopes to become Asia’s biggest hub for shooting, editing and producing films. Already, the town is shaping up as a movie buff’s haven, with the first Huairou Film Cultural Festival.

Huairou’s film and TV industry started with Feiteng Film City, which was first used in 1997. Feiteng is the location of more than 100 film and TV drama shoots over the 10 ten years and is now open to tourists. Established in 1997, the shooting base has been used for popular TV series and films by Taiwan, Hong Kong and Chinese mainland film producers.

Presently the largest film base in North China, the 23-hectare film city is divided into a southern outdoor scene section, and a northern indoor film studio and residence area.

The southern section accommodates productions shot in the style of the ancient Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). Scene locations include all the architecture of ancient Chinese life: streets, courtyard houses, teahouse, restaurant, theatre, waterside pavilions, brothel, temple, king’s palace, county magistrate’s official mansion and city walls of different sizes. There are also South Chinese-style rivertown buildings, small North Chinese towns, and imperial gardens. Most of these are built with wood, in ancient style.

The architecture comes to life with the services of a guide, who explains the tricks of moviemaking, as well as information on the famous films and TV dramas made here. It is possible that you might bump into some big movie stars shooting on location. Other features include ancient Beijing style streets, the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) residence of powerful official Heshen, the brothel of Wei Xiaobao—a character created by Hong Kong martial art novelist Louis Cha.

Should you tire, staff members dressed in ancient costumes will serve you tea, to be enjoyed with a view of the ancient city. You can also don Ming and Qing style dresses, and experience the acting of your heroes on the screen. The northern film studios are mainly dedicated to indoor shooting. But there is a complete replica of the Forbidden City’s Hall of Supreme Harmony, where Qing emperors held their most important ceremonies.

Besides teahouses, there are restaurants in the area where you can try local barbecued fish and produce from the fields. There is also a three-star hotel, comprising a gym, snooker table, video room, karaoke, library and Internet access. Huairou District boasts of other film-themed areas including Wine Cultural Park, Fashion Island, No-Night Valley, and Night Bohai Sea. The China Film Corp also plans to develope a 35-hectare complex in the district, which will incorporate the National Digital Film Project.

Building began in December 2005

The complex, once completed, will hold Asia’s largest 16 modern film studios, as well as post-production equipment.

Its target production capacity per year will be 80 films, 100 digital films, 200 TV films, 500 episodes of TV drama or cartoons. That is 60 per cent of all present film and TV shooting, and 50 per cent of post-production in China. Already, more than 100 films and TV dramas have been completed at Feiteng Film City, including, Big Mansion (Dazhaimen), and The Eloquent Ji Xiaolan (Tiechi Tonya Ji Xiaolan). Shooting of A Dream of Red Mansions has taken place in the district from May, in a location on the west bank of Yanqi Lake. China Film Corp has completed the first phase of its film base, which will be operational by June next year. The second phase, an old Beijing cultural street project, is ongoing.

China has more than 40 large-scale film and TV bases, but just 30 per cent of them provide 70% of all post-production. Comparatively, Huairou District will offer chain-like services guaranteeing shooting, editing, and post-production. After completion, it is expected the region will be a mega base for film and TV production, as well as a trading centre for the video industry, a film education and training centre, and a tourist destination. (By Ye Jun in Beijing/ China Daily/Asia News Network)