China West Film Studio

China West Film Studio

It may look like a crumbling desert fort, but for the Chinese movie industry Zhenbeibu film studio is like Hollywood, Universal Studios and Monument Valley all rolled into one.

Originally the strategically important location of two forts at the foot of Helan Mountain, these were destroyed by a massive earthquake. Reknowned Chinese writer Zhang Xianliang took over the site and Zhenbeibu is now one of the three largest film studios in China, and the most famous in Western China.

The location for dozens of blockbuster Chinese films since 1992, these studios are now the hub of desert based Chinese movies. These movies often feature warriors on horseback, with epic stories frequently sharing similar themes to the bleaker American cowboy movies. The dusty ruins and barren landscapes enhance the feelings of desolation so popular in this type of Chinese film.

Recreated streets, markets and buildings have replaced the innards of the two forts. With the help of a little set dressing and costumed actors, these can replicate many periods of Chinese history.