If you have ever watched a Chinese historical drama with enormous palace courtyards, towering gates and hundreds of soldiers marching beneath a giant imperial hall, there is a good chance you have seen Qin Palace (秦王宫).
Qin Palace was designed around the imperial architecture of Qin-era Xianyang. Today, it is one of Hengdian’s most recognisable film sets and has been used for hundreds of films and dramas, including Love Like The Galaxy, The Untamed, Ashes to Crown and Key to the Phoenix Heart.
📍 At a glance
- Chinese name: 秦王宫
- English: Qin Palace / Qinwang Palace
- Location: Hengdian World Studios, Dongyang, Zhejiang
- Size: approximately 110,000 m² of built area.
- Recommended time: 2–4 hours
- Best for: Historical dramas, palace architecture, photography and seeing large-scale film sets
Opening hours
- Park Open: 8.30am
- Last entry at 6.00pm
(Note: time may change based on season, please verify via wechat mini app)
🌟 Important info 🌟 Visit this as your first destination in the morning as scheduled performances are held once a day as early as 8.45am.
How to get to Hengdian World Studios Scenic Area – Qin Palace
There’s no public transport within Hengdian itself so you will need to call for a taxi (didi) via Didi app (or mini app in Alipay).
- Destination (Chinese): 横店影视城秦王宫景区-南门售票处
- Destination (English): Hengdian World Studios Qin Palace Scenic Area – South Gate Ticket Office
- Cost: Depends on where you are departing from in Hengdian but approximately CNY12 to CNY20
You will get dropped off right in front of the ticket check gate and can go right in. There are also food and hanfu rental shop right outside the gate.
If you’ve purchased your ticket online, just directly scan your passport at the turnstile. No ticket collection required.
Refer to this post for methods to buy tickets:
🌟 Important info 🌟 You can only enter each location gate (in this case Qin Palace ticket gate) once, even if you buy multi-day ticket.
🗺️ What you can expect to see in Qin Palace
You can refer to this link for a 3D render and photos of key locations that can be visited.
2️⃣ The Front Square (前广场)
Right after you pass the ticketing gate you’ll be directed to the Front Square with a view of the Gate of Imperial Palace.
It’s quite a nice photospot but I couldn’t find any c-drama that uses this exact same gate. Let me know in the comments if you recognise it in any drama!
3️⃣ Qin Army Training Camp (秦军训练营)
While you are walking through the front square, stop by the two red tower on your left just before the Imperial Palace gate.
I missed out on the photo opportunity here cause I didn’t notice it’s importance at the time. Please don’t make the same mistake as me 🥹
This set was used as an imperial training ground and competition venue in traditional C-dramas. One of its most memorable appearances is in 《九重紫》 (Blossom), Episode 14, where it serves as the setting for the ladies’ etiquette competition.
5️⃣ Double Passage (复道2)
One of the most iconic filming spots in Qin Palace, is instantly recognisable for its long, narrow covered walkway, enclosed by towering walls on both sides. The imposing, enclosed layout creates a naturally dramatic setting—and it’s no surprise that it has become a favourite location for ambushes, confrontations and chase scenes in historical C-dramas.
This was the spot that trigger the “I’ve seen this scene before!” feeling for me.
You may recognise it from Love Like the Galaxy Episode 49, where Cheng Shaoshang had a discussion with the Third Prince. This location appeared consistently throughout the drama.
Fans of 《扶摇》 (Legend of Fuyao) may recognise this location from Episode 28, where Fuyao leaves her bridal sedan and makes a dramatic dash towards the palace.
Photo tip: Recreate Fuyao’s iconic running pose here—run forward with your skirt flowing behind you, and look back over your shoulder for a fun recreation of the scene.
If you’re a fan of short dramas, you may also recognise this location from 《Always My General》. All palace ambush scene including the one on Episode 1 was filmed here.
6️⃣ Back Square (后广场)
Once you pass through 4️⃣ Door of middle imperial Palace, you’ll arrive at the vast Back Square, one of the most imposing open spaces in Qin Palace. The enormous Hall of the Four Seas Returning as One and its 99 steps rise at the far end, creating the grand imperial backdrop that makes this area feel straight out of a historical drama.
For C-drama fans, don’t just look towards the palace. Look across the grass!
On the left side you’ll spot the Lotus Tower replica from Mysterious Lotus Casebook—the travelling medical hall and home of Li Lianhua. It’s a fun unexpected find in the middle of this otherwise Qin-dynasty setting. (As of April 2026)
There may even be a staff member dressed up as Li Lianhua either inside or outside the Lotus Tower, and you can take a picture with him!
🌟 Photo tip: 🌟Get a photo with the Lotus Tower in the foreground and the enormous Qin Palace behind it for a very Hengdian combination of different C-drama worlds in one shot.
And on the right-hand side, there’s also a standee display for Mysterious Lotus Casebook. I’m honestly not sure why it’s there since I don’t remember palace scenes in the drama.
🔟 Four Flying Dragons (四条飞龙) + 1️⃣1️⃣ 99 Steps (九十九级台阶)
One of the most striking details at Qin Palace is the Four Flying Dragons (四条飞龙), a set of four enormous dragon sculptures built into the palace architecture. They represent the imperial power and majesty of the Qin dynasty.
The 99 Steps (九十九级台阶) lead up to the main hall of the palace. This is one of the most recognisable views in Qin Palace, with the huge staircase creating the dramatic scale that makes Hengdian’s sets so popular for historical dramas.
The staircase is also a familiar backdrop in C-dramas for imperial ceremonies, palace arrivals and confrontations. Most recently used frequently from the 2026 drama Ashes to Crown (翘楚).
📸 Photo tip: Stand at the bottom and shoot upwards to capture the full staircase and palace together. For a more cinematic shot, have someone walk up the steps while you photograph from below—the scale of the staircase does most of the work for you.
1️⃣2️⃣ East and West Corridor
Running along the sides of the main palace complex, the East Corridor (东廊) and West Corridor (西廊) are long, covered walkways lined with traditional Qin-style architecture. Their repetitive columns, dark wooden structures and enclosed layout give them a distinctly imperial feel.
These corridors are easy to overlook because they aren’t as dramatic as the main palace halls, but they’re actually great for photography—and their relatively narrow, sheltered spaces are often used as transition shots, palace walkways and character encounters in historical dramas.
🎬 Filming location: Keep an eye out for this walkway in 《焚城》 (Ashes to Crown), Episode 1.
1️⃣3️⃣ The Hall of Four Seas Returning as One (四海归一殿)
The Hall of the Four Seas Returning as One (四海归一殿) is the grand central palace of Qin Palace and one of the most recognisable structures in the entire set. Sitting at the top of the 99 Steps (九十九级台阶), its enormous scale was designed to evoke the power and grandeur of the Qin imperial court.
Step inside the Hall of the Four Seas Returning as One (四海归一殿) to find an enormous imperial throne room. With its towering pillars, vast open space and imposing throne, it’s easy to imagine a grand court scene unfolding here.
I don’t recognise the exact throne here as being used in any c-drama I’ve watched. Probably because the area is not easy to clear off as they are modern signs in the area.
⚠️ Important: You have to pay to take photos with the throne! ⚠️
The throne is roped off with staff guarding it, and the listed package was ¥899 for costume rental + photos inside the hall. Styling and makeup were not included, and even the JPEG files cost an additional ¥50.
Initially decided not to take the package, and they eventually offered us ¥200 for 3 photos inside + 1 photo outside. At that price, I thought it was quite reasonable compared with the original ¥899.
The photos that their photographer took was quite ugly and the photo I’ve uploaded at the top was the one I took myself, while below are the ones taken by the photographer.
💡 Tip: If you don’t want the expensive package, don’t feel pressured to take it immediately. The price is negotiable, ask them if there is a way to make it cheaper.
🚶👣 Path from QinMing Shang He Tu (Along the River During Qin Ming Festival)
If you’d like to check out Qin Ming Shang He Tu park of Hengdian World Studios during the day, you can access the park from Qin Palace.
🌟 IMPORTANT 🌟 If you do this, you can re-enter Qin Ming Shang He Tu again at night, as long as you exit from Qin Palace Gate. The one time per park rule applies from which park gate you enter from so as l
You’ll find a path with trees and big open area. Just walk toward the left to the the very end and you’ll find the entry point of Qin Ming Shang He Tu. No tickets will be scanned here and you can freely come and go within the two parks.
This is quite a convenient way to visit both parks during the day, while opening up opportunity for a revisit at night.
🎭 Shows & Performance Times
Qin Palace also has several short performances throughout the day, usually held at different locations around the palace complex. Show times can change depending on the season and day, so check the schedule on the official Hengdian WeChat MiniApp in advance.
I missed most of the performances since I didn’t do this and just catch whatever I managed to.
As of Nov 2026, below are the schedules for the main performances. There are more that I did not list here:
King of Qin Welcomes Guests 秦王迎宾 at 2️⃣ Front Square (8.20am only)
Performed once a day at 8.20am (Duration: 5 minutes)
This performance can be seen from the 2️⃣ Front Square. You will have to come early to see this as it’s only performed once a day.
I went quite late so I didn’t get to see this but it does look quite cool from videos.
👑 First Emperor’s Coronation Ceremony (始皇登基大典 — ) at 1️⃣1️⃣ 99 Steps
Performed 3 times a day at 10am, 1pm and 3pm (Duration: 13 minutes)
Large-scale reenactment of Qin Shi Huang’s coronation ceremony. Set against the grand palace architecture, the performance recreates the pomp and ceremony of an imperial accession, with costumed performers, court officials and traditional ceremonial rituals.
There are more shows than this throughout the day and interactive games that can be participated in (if you know Mandarin). Check out the WeChat Mini App for full list and schedules.
Imperial Realm (High Altitude Flight Experience) at 9️⃣ West Imperial Palace Door
This ride is accessible via the 6️⃣ Back Square lawn
It is pretty much a theme park level ride but you fly through a battle in Qin Palace and Great Wall of China. Personally was too lazy to queue so I decided to skip
⭐ Artist Handprint Display
Before you leave Qin Palace, take a look at the artist handprint display near the exit. You’ll find handprints and signatures from actors and celebrities who have filmed at Hengdian, making it a fun little stop for C-drama fans.
🎬 Final Tips
Qin Palace is huge, so don’t try to see everything at once. If you’re mainly visiting as a C-drama fan, prioritise the filming locations and sets that you actually recognise, then work the performances into your route if the timing fits.
And most importantly, keep your eyes open for the little details. Some of the most fun discoveries aren’t the main attractions, but suddenly recognising a corridor, staircase or courtyard from a drama you’ve watched.
For me, that’s what makes Hengdian so much fun—you can walk through an ordinary-looking set and suddenly realise, “Wait… I’ve seen this before!” 🎬✨
💬 Have any questions? Drop them in the comments! And if you spot any of these locations in your favourite drama, let me know too—I’d love to hear about it!
