Joy of Life (庆余年, Qìng Yú Nián) does something rare among C-dramas: it puts its hero in places that look lived-in. Fan Xian’s world is not a fantasy backlot of empty palaces — it has streets, teahouses, market crowds and river towns. The good news is that most of it is real, and two of the main settings are among the most visitor-friendly Joy of Life filming locations in China.
This guide covers where Joy of Life was shot, which locations are worth your time, and how to string them into a route that works.
The Short Answer: Joy of Life was shot across several studios rather than one. The capital’s palace and city scenes were split between Xiangyang Tang City (襄阳唐城) in Hubei and Xiangshan Film City in Zhejiang; the opening town of Danzhou was shot at Duyun in Guizhou; and further material was shot at Hengdian. Tang City is purpose-built for film and open to visitors, and it is the single most Joy-of-Life-specific place you can go. Base yourself in Xiangyang for 2 days, then add Hengdian if you have time.
Why Joy of Life filming locations are easier to visit than most
The production’s defining visual — the wide, ordered city streets with their timber facades — comes largely from Tang City (唐城), a dedicated film city built outside Xiangyang in Hubei province — built for Chen Kaige’s film Legend of the Demon Cat and opened to visitors afterwards. Unlike a scattering of national parks and remote valleys, Tang City is a single contiguous attraction. You walk in, and you are inside the show.
That makes Joy of Life one of the few C-dramas where a dedicated fan can see the most recognisable locations in a single weekend without a car, a driver or a tour.
Joy of Life filming locations at a glance
| Location | Where | What was filmed | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tang City (唐城) | Xiangyang, Hubei | The capital street scenes, palace courtyards, market sequences | Easy — one ticketed attraction |
| Hengdian World Studios | Dongyang, Zhejiang | Palace interiors, additional courtyard scenes | Easy — inside the park |
| Guizhou locations | Various, Guizhou | Select outdoor and mountain scenes | Medium — needs transport |
| Xiangyang city walls | Xiangyang, Hubei | Establishing shots of the city | Easy — public |
Xiangyang Tang City: the heart of Joy of Life
Xiangyang Tang City is the reason this pilgrimage is doable. Built specifically as a film and television base reproducing Tang-dynasty architecture, it supplies the ordered boulevards and timber shopfronts that define Joy of Life’s capital.
The scale is the thing. Photographs do not prepare you for how wide the central avenue is, or how the facades run unbroken for hundreds of metres. On screen the production uses that width to stage crowd scenes; standing in it, you understand why.
When to go: Tang City runs daytime and evening sessions, and the evening session — when the buildings are lit — is the one most fans prefer. Confirm current hours before you travel; they shift by season.
Getting there: Xiangyang has a high-speed rail station with direct services from Wuhan, Xi’an and Zhengzhou. From the station, taxi or DiDi to Tang City is straightforward and cheap. Detailed transport notes are in our Xiangyang guide.
Hengdian: the palace interiors
The palace interiors and several courtyard sequences were shot at Hengdian World Studios, the same complex that supplied The Untamed’s Cloud Recesses. If you are already planning an Untamed trip, you can fold the Joy of Life interiors into the same visit — the zones overlap.
The relevant zones are Qinqing Palace for the grander halls and Ming Qing Palace for the more domestic interiors.
Suggested 4-day Joy of Life itinerary
The 4-day Joy of Life route, day by day
Tang City is the one place that is unambiguously “the show” — give it the whole of Day 2.
Day 1 — Arrive Xiangyang. High-speed rail in, check in near Tang City rather than the city centre if you can. Spend the evening on the Xiangyang city walls.
Day 2 — Tang City, full day. Daytime session in the morning, break, return for the evening lighting. This is your core Joy of Life day.
Day 3 — Xiangyang to Hengdian. Long rail day (via Wuhan or Hangzhou). Arrive Hengdian in the evening.
Day 4 — Hengdian palace zones. Qinqing Palace and Ming Qing Palace for the interior material.
How much it actually costs
| Item | Typical cost (CNY) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tang City entry | ~100–130 | Day or evening session; combo tickets exist |
| High-speed rail Wuhan–Xiangyang | ~110–160 | About 1.5 hours |
| Hotel in Xiangyang (mid-range) | 200–400/night | Cheaper than the coastal cities |
| Hengdian 3-point combo | ~400 | If continuing to Zhejiang |
A four-day route on the ground runs roughly ¥2,000–3,200 excluding international flights.
Booking from outside China: Tang City and Hengdian use different ticket systems. For Hengdian, the operator says to book through its WeChat QR using a mainland friend’s ID, then contact its online customer service to replace the order details with the visitor’s passport. Orders including the six listed Hengdian areas require a separate reservation for each visitor ID. Tang City is a separate operator; use its current product instructions. Hengdian guide: steps and official links.
Common questions
Is Tang City a real historical site?
No — it is a purpose-built film city reproducing Tang-dynasty architecture, completed in the 2010s. That is not a drawback. It was built to look correct on camera, which is exactly what you are there to see.
Can I visit Tang City in one day?
Yes. Tang City is compact enough to cover thoroughly in a single day including the evening session. Two days lets you slow down and shoot properly.
Do I need to book Joy of Life locations in advance?
For Hengdian, a separate reservation is required when the ticket order includes Dream Valley, Ming Qing Palace, Guangzhou Street · Hong Kong Street, Qinqing Palace, Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival, or Dream Bund; each visitor ID in a multi-person order reserves separately. Overseas visitors can book initially with a mainland friend’s ID, then contact the official WeChat mini-program customer service to replace the order details with their passport details. Tang City is run by a different operator, so check its own ticket product. The Hengdian guide links the official reservation portal and passport steps. See the current Hengdian reservation guide.
What is the best time of year?
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November). Xiangyang summers are hot and humid; winters are cold with flat, grey light that photographs poorly.
Is Xiangyang worth visiting beyond Tang City?
Yes, if you have a spare half-day. The Xiangyang city walls and the ancient city area are genuinely historic, unlike the film city, and give you a useful sense of the real place the drama names.
Your next move
Worried about the practical stuff?
Visas, payment, trains and the apps you’ll need before you land — the four things you cannot work out on the ground. Each guide is dated and sourced.
Ready to go?
The show’s two halves are Xiangyang’s Tang City and Hengdian. Start with the Xiangyang guide.
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Sources: Hengdian World Studios — English overseas booking and admission instructions · Hengdian World Studios — scenic-area reservation list, per-ID rule, and hotline · Xiandu Scenic Area, Jinyun - official site · Xiangshan Film City - official visitor notice (tickets, hours) · Xiangyang Tang City - official visitor information (tickets, hours)
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