SCENE 01 / LOCATION SCOUTING SERVICES
Location Scouting Services
Find perfect filming locations across China—from Beijing to Shanghai and beyond.
The right location can make or break a production. That is why we built a team of skilled scouts who know China inside and out, from the hutong alleyways of old Beijing to the futuristic skyline of Shanghai's Pudong district. Our team handles it all: site research, logistics checks, and permit forms. You tell us what you need, and we find it.
Over the years, we have built a database of more than 5,000 locations across the country. But we do not just hand you a list and wish you luck. Our scouts visit each site to confirm it meets your needs, whether that is an ancient water town near Suzhou for a period piece or a sleek Shenzhen tech campus for a corporate campaign.
What really sets us apart is our network. Our team has spent years building ties with property owners, local officials, the China Film Administration, and regional film bureaus. China's filming rules need deep local knowledge, and we have the connections that make complex shoots possible.
Our Location Scouting Services
The right location can make or break a production. That is why we built a team of skilled scouts who know China inside and out, from the hutong alleyways of old Beijing to the futuristic skyline of Shanghai's Pudong district. Our team handles it all: site research, logistics checks, and permit forms. You tell us what you need, and we find it.
Over the years, we have built a database of more than 5,000 locations across the country. But we do not just hand you a list and wish you luck. Our scouts visit each site to confirm it meets your needs, whether that is an ancient water town near Suzhou for a period piece or a sleek Shenzhen tech campus for a corporate campaign.
What really sets us apart is our network. Our team has spent years building ties with property owners, local officials, the China Film Administration, and regional film bureaus. China's filming rules need deep local knowledge, and we have the connections that make complex shoots possible.
Comprehensive Location Scouting Solutions
Expert location scouts with deep knowledge of China's varied landscapes, cities, and cultural sites. We offer full location services, from the first scout to on-set support with permits and logistics.
Urban Locations
- • Modern cityscapes
- • Historic districts
- • Commercial areas
- • Residential neighborhoods
- • Industrial zones
Natural Landscapes
- • Coastal beaches
- • Mountain regions
- • Vineyard settings
- • Forest locations
- • River systems
Cultural Sites
- • Ancient palaces and temples
- • Imperial-era architecture
- • Traditional villages
- • Museums
- • Heritage locations
Production Facilities
- • Studio spaces
- • Controlled environments
- • Green screen facilities
- • Equipment storage
- • Crew facilities
How We Work With You
You tell us what you are looking for, we go find it, and we handle every headache in between: permits, talks, and logistics. By the time you show up to shoot, everything is ready.
Requirements Analysis
First, we sit down with you to learn exactly what you are after. Our team goes through your script, looks at reference images, talks through your budget, and pins down the visual style you want. No detail is too small at this stage.
Research & Reconnaissance
Once we know what you need, our scouts get to work. Our team pulls site options from the database, then inspects each one in person. We photograph every location from several angles and note the key details, from power supply and parking to ground conditions and daylight patterns.
Presentation & Selection
We build a detailed presentation for each shortlisted location. You get pro photos, logistics breakdowns, rough costs, and notes on the permits we will need. Most clients find exactly what they want in the first round of options.
Coordination & Securing
Once you have made your choice, we handle the rest. Our team negotiates fees with property owners, sets up access schedules, manages contracts, and secures every permit you need. By the time your crew arrives, everything is sorted and ready to go.
You get a single point of contact throughout, someone who knows your project and gives you straight answers when things change. And things always change.
What We Bring to the Table
Years of on-the-ground work across China, a database we built from scratch, and the kind of local ties that take years to develop.
Our Resources
5,000+ Locations On File
We have been building this database for years. Every entry has photos, GPS coordinates, notes on access and power, and the best time of year to shoot. It is not just a list; it is hard-won knowledge.
On-Site Technical Surveys
Before we recommend anywhere, we check it ourselves. Power capacity, truck access, parking, and ambient noise all matter when you are trying to shoot there.
Permit Handling
Chinese red tape can be dense. Our team handles the permit forms, the property releases, and the back-and-forth with local officials. You should not have to.
Scouting Statistics
Why Choose Fixers in China for Location Scouting
Local Expertise
Our scouts have spent their lives in these places. They know the back roads to hidden gardens and quiet towns that most visitors never find. That local knowledge lets us offer locations you will not see in any other production's portfolio.
Complete Documentation
Each location report we deliver is detailed enough to hand straight to your line producer. It covers tech specs, permit needs, access routes, and nearby facilities. It is all there, organized and ready to use.
Rapid Response
Plans change at the last minute, and we get it. That is why we offer 48-hour turnaround on location reports and emergency scouting when you need to pivot fast during production.
Cultural Heritage Access
Getting permission to film at UNESCO sites, ancient palaces and temples, or national monuments is not easy, but we have done it dozens of times. Our team knows the application process, the right contacts, and how to present your project so it gets approved.
On Location
Vetted Chinese locations from Beijing hutongs to Zhangjiajie peaks
Scouting in China rewards local instinct as much as a deep database. Our team works a catalogue of more than five thousand pre-scouted sites. Each pick starts with a fresh visit, so we can confirm light direction, ambient noise, car access, and the realities of district film bureau permits before a shortlist reaches your line producer.
Our team moves fast through Beijing's contrasting neighbourhoods: the imperial axis from Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City out to the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace, the modern towers of the CBD and the 798 Art District, and the lived-in hutongs around Wangfujing and Houhai. From there we reach Shanghai's Bund waterfront, Pudong's Lujiazui skyline, the French Concession lanes, Tianzifang and Xintiandi, plus Guangzhou's Pearl River corridor, Shenzhen's Futian and Nanshan, and Hong Kong's Central and Tsim Sha Tsui. Each district carries its own forms through the city film bureau and, where heritage is involved, the local cultural relics authority.
China's heritage and natural locations bring their own rules. The Great Wall at Mutianyu, Badaling, Jinshanling and Simatai, the Li River karst country around Guilin and Yangshuo, the sandstone pillars of Zhangjiajie, Xi'an's Terracotta Army, Huangshan, the Yangtze's Three Gorges, the canal towns of Suzhou, the Anhui villages of Hongcun and Xidi, Pingyao's Ming-Qing core and Lijiang Old Town each need liaison with provincial film bureaus and cultural relics offices. In many cases, foreign co-productions also work through CFCC to satisfy NRTA, and to claim the Qingdao, Wuxi, Xiamen or Hainan cash rebates cleanly.
The picture on the ground is more precise. Our scouts deliver production-ready packages within forty-eight hours, complete with daylight studies, power and parking notes, MCT-compliant access routes, and backup options for typhoon season on the southern coast or Beijing's winter pollution windows. Long-standing ties with property owners, danwei work units, Hengdian World Studios, and the China Film Co-Production Corporation mean the locations we recommend fit the schedule you are working to.
FAQ
Location Scouting FAQ
Essential information for planning your location scouting project in China.
How long does location scouting take in China?
It really depends on what you need. For a simple commercial shoot, we can often turn around options in 2-3 days. Feature films usually need 1-2 weeks of scouting to cover all the scenes. Documentaries fall in between, at about 3-7 days. And if you are in a bind, we offer emergency scouting with 24-48 hour delivery.
What permits are required for filming at Chinese locations?
The permits you need depend on where you shoot and how big the shoot is. Public areas call for a filming permit from local authorities. Private sites need a release form from the owner. Historical monuments and UNESCO sites run through their own process at cultural affairs offices. We handle all of this for you, which is one of the main reasons shoots hire us.
What are typical location scouting costs in China?
Basic day-rate scouting runs between $300 and $500 per day. We also offer full packages that cover many sites, plus documentation and permit help, and those run $1,500-$6,000 based on scope. Remote locations cost more, at about $800-$2,500 per day for mountain or rural scouting. Permit fees themselves range from $150 to $1,500 based on the site.
Can you scout locations in remote areas of China?
We have several favourite spots well off the tourist trail. Our crews often scout in the Himalayas, along the Guangdong coast, in rural Yunnan, and across the Tibetan Plateau. Our team runs access reviews for far-flung locations, handles gear transport, and finds good housing for crew working in the area.
How many location options will we receive?
For each scene or setup you need, we usually present 3-5 vetted options. These are not random picks; each one has been checked for logistics, permit availability, and budget fit. We would rather give you fewer, better options than swamp you with places that will not work.
What documentation do you provide for each location?
Each location package holds many high-resolution photos taken from several angles, plus technical survey data on power supply, access points, and facilities. It also covers logistics such as parking, service locations, and site restrictions. For complex locations, we add site maps and suggested camera positions based on the light.
Related Services
Productions in China that need this often pair it with Local Fixer Services, Production Budgeting Services, and Production Scheduling Services for full coverage. Most projects also draw on Pre-Production Services and Travel Coordinator.
On Set
Ready to Discover Perfect Locations?
Let us find the backdrop your project deserves. Get in touch and tell us what you need, and we will take it from there.