At 'China's Hollywood', visitors become stars as consumers spend more on experiences
HENGDIAN: Onlookers craned their necks outside an ornate palace chamber, peering through the doors at four women in silk robes and jade hairpins acting out a court intrigue. One consort slapped another across the face, the director called for another take, and the cast huddled over their phones. Then they started laughing. But the scene was not for a television drama. The women were friends who…
At China's Hollywood, Hengdian World Studios, visitors become stars while consumers pour more money into experiences. More than 2,000 people have taken part in the studio's experiential tourism since it launched in August, with demand particularly high during weekends and holidays. Wang Weili, a director, reported working from morning until night to accommodate all the guests during the National Day holiday.
Travel, entertainment, and immersive attractions have seen a surge in spending as the Chinese economy slows and property prices slump. For 388 yuan ($55), Clare Huang and her friends experienced life as an empress, undergoing hair and makeup, dressing in costumes, and filming a 30-minute scene with a 90-second edited video. They chose from over 20 scripts, many involving palace intrigue, romance, or betrayal.
Xie, a 28-year-old influencer, paid 498 yuan ($70) for a solo session based on an original script, expressing pleasure in dressing up more boldly and having her picture taken.
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