Take 01
2016
The Great Wall
Great Wall sections, Qingdao studios, Beijing exteriors
39.9042°N, 116.4074°E
Beijing
Capture the grandeur of China's ancient capital with our comprehensive production support across Beijing's imperial landmarks, historic hutongs, and modern architectural marvels.
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Scene 01 — Filmed Here
Notable Productions in Beijing
Take 02
2002
Hero
Forbidden City surrounds, Beijing palace complexes
Take 03
1987
The Last Emperor
Forbidden City interior (rare full access), Imperial Palace courtyards
Take 04
2006
Mission: Impossible III
Beijing hutongs, urban exteriors (China sequence)
Take 05
2016
Kung Fu Panda 3
Beijing co-production with Oriental DreamWorks
Scene 02 — Locations
Filming Locations in Beijing
From landmark monuments to hidden quarters — every district scouted and permit-mapped.
landmark
Forbidden City (Palace Museum)
The world's largest imperial palace complex with 980 buildings. Interior filming extremely rare but exterior courtyards and surrounding areas accessible with advance coordination.
Great Wall - Mutianyu Section
Well-preserved Ming Dynasty wall section 70km from Beijing. Less crowded than Badaling with dramatic mountain scenery and restored watchtowers.
Moderate
Temple of Heaven
15th-century imperial ceremonial complex with iconic circular Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. Expansive grounds with cypresses and echo walls.
Complex
Hutong Neighborhoods
Traditional alleyway neighborhoods with courtyard houses (siheyuan), local life, and historic atmosphere. Nanluoguxiang, Wudaoying, and Baitasi offer varied character.
Moderate
CCTV Headquarters
Rem Koolhaas-designed headquarters with distinctive angular loop design. Iconic symbol of modern Beijing visible from surrounding CBD area.
Moderate
Summer Palace
Vast imperial garden with Kunming Lake, Longevity Hill, and traditional architecture. Marble Boat, Long Corridor, and lakeside pavilions offer diverse settings.
Complex
798 Art District
Converted military electronics factory with Bauhaus architecture housing galleries, studios, and creative businesses. Industrial aesthetic with artistic overlay.
Easy
Olympic Park & Bird's Nest
2008 Olympics legacy with National Stadium (Bird's Nest) and National Aquatics Center (Water Cube). Modern parkland and architectural icons.
Moderate
Dongcheng & Forbidden City
Imperial core with the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and traditional hutong neighborhoods surrounding the palace complex.
Chaoyang & CBD
Modern business district with CCTV Headquarters, China World Trade Center, and Sanlitun entertainment area for contemporary urban backdrops.
Xicheng & Houhai
Historic lakes district with traditional courtyard homes, Drum and Bell Towers, and Prince Gong's Mansion for period settings.
Haidian & University District
Tech hub with Peking University, Tsinghua University, and the Summer Palace offering academic and garden settings.
Scene 03 — The Case for Beijing
Why Film in Beijing
- ✓ Unparalleled access to 3,000 years of Chinese imperial history and architecture
- ✓ Growing film industry infrastructure with experienced local crews
- ✓ Dramatic contrast between ancient landmarks and ultra-modern skyline
- ✓ Gateway to Great Wall locations within 1-2 hours of city center
- ✓ Government film incentives for approved international co-productions
Scene 04 — Logistics
Transport & Logistics
Airports PEK (25km / 40-60 min) · PKX (46km / 45-75 min) ▼
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) — 25km / 40-60 min
Airport Express train (25 min to Dongzhimen)Taxi (~CNY 100-150)Private transferAirport bus routes
Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) — 46km / 45-75 min
Daxing Airport Express (19 min to Caoqiao)Taxi (~CNY 200-250)Private transferAirport bus routes
Local Transit metro · taxi · rideshare · bus ▼
metro
27 lines covering most of Beijing. Runs 5am-11pm. Extensive coverage but stations can be far apart in historic areas.
Crew tip: Metro filming requires Beijing Metro approval (4+ weeks). Security checks at all stations slow equipment transport.
taxi
Abundant and affordable. Official taxis are marked with company colors. Apps: Didi (dominant), Gaode.
Crew tip: Didi advance booking available for large groups. English limited - have destinations written in Chinese characters.
rideshare
Didi is the primary platform. Didi Premier and Didi Luxe for client transport available.
bus
Extensive network but slow due to traffic. Double-decker tourist buses cover major landmarks.
Crew tip: Not recommended for equipment transport due to crowding and unpredictable schedules.
Production Parking moderate · Permits required
▼
Street parking limited in central areas. Underground parking widely available at malls and hotels (CNY 5-15/hour).
Production vehicle permits arranged through Beijing Film Bureau with local partner support. Historic areas require special access approval for large vehicles.
Getting Between Locations ▼
Beijing is sprawling - allow 45-90 minutes between locations depending on traffic. Rush hours (7-9am, 5-8pm) can double travel times. Metro often faster than driving for central locations. Consider basing near primary shooting locations to minimize daily transit.
Ready?
Plan Your Beijing Shoot
From permits and crew to equipment and logistics — we handle everything on the ground so you can focus on capturing China's imperial capital.