cover image for Shanghai Film Park

Shanghai Film Park


3 min read Nov 1, 2024

During our six-week-long holiday in Shanghai last winter, Q and I visited the Shanghai Film Park. Though it is located quite a bit away from the denser city center, it’s still worth a visit.

Leica CL · 23mm · f/2 · 1/2500 · ISO 100

The sprawling complex is both a tourist attraction and a working film studio. While we were there, we saw areas blocked off for active filming. People also come to do engagement photoshoots in period dress.

Leica CL · 23mm · f/2 · 1/400 · ISO 100

Leica CL · 23mm · f/2 · 1/3200 · ISO 100

Though there are different areas, each focused on a particular place and time period, the most famous are the streets meant to replicate Nanjing Road (南京路) in the 1930s.

Leica CL · 23mm · f/2 · 1/4000 · ISO 100

Over the years, the complex has been added to as movies or television shows need new sets. Many world-famous movies and shows have been filmed there including Temptress Moon, The White Countess, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emporer, and Wong Kar-wai’s recent television series, Blossoms Shanghai.

Leica CL · 23mm · f/2 · 1/2500 · ISO 100

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to walk through the Huanghe Road section with its glowing neon signs as it was still under renovation. We did get a peak through a window.

Leica CL · 23mm · f/2 · 1/2000 · ISO 100

That cold day, aside from the active film shoot, there were very few other tourists. We had the chance to meander, photograph, and explore on our own. Here are some photographs I took.

Leica CL · 23mm · f/5.6 · 1/800 · ISO 100

Leica CL · 23mm · f/2 · 1/3200 · ISO 100

Leica CL · 23mm · f/2 · 1/2000 · ISO 100

Leica CL · 23mm · f/2 · 1/1600 · ISO 100

Leica CL · 23mm · f/2 · 1/5000 · ISO 100

Leica CL · 23mm · f/5.6 · 1/1000 · ISO 100

Leica CL · 23mm · f/2 · 1/1250 · ISO 100

Leica CL · 23mm · f/2 · 1/160 · ISO 100

Leica CL · 23mm · f/2 · 1/60 · ISO 160

Leica CL · 23mm · f/2 · 1/200 · ISO 100

Leica CL · 23mm · f/5.6 · 1/60 · ISO 320

Leica CL · 23mm · f/2 · 1/3200 · ISO 100

Leica CL · 23mm · f/2 · 1/2000 · ISO 100

Leica CL · 23mm · f/5.6 · 1/200 · ISO 100

Leica CL · 23mm · f/5.6 · 1/400 · ISO 100

Leica CL · 23mm · f/5.6 · 1/250 · ISO 100

Leica CL · 23mm · f/5.6 · 1/60 · ISO 1250

Leica CL · 23mm · f/5.6 · 1/60 · ISO 100

Leica CL · 23mm · f/2 · 1/3200 · ISO 100

Camera setup

Camera setup

Thanks to Q for reading drafts of this.

Cover animation courtesy Shanghai Film Park

Subscribe to the newsletter