From Castles and Eroded Ruins to Lost-World Forests
Scouting filming locations in Beijing China for Chi Pu’s music video ‘Mirror’ presented a unique challenge: creating nine distinct visual worlds without leaving the capital region. It wasn’t just logistics—it was finding locations that could represent different facets of her imagined past lives, all while staying within the confines of Beijing and Hebei.
This demanded extreme visual contrast, which we ultimately found in three spectacular sites that formed the physical foundation for these conceptual landscapes.
1. The French Château: the Lafayette Castle
For the high-fashion, aristocratic segments of the MV, we infused the visuals with European elegance. Tucked away in Changping District, Beijing Lafayette Castle (Lafite Château) is an architectural marvel modelled after France’s iconic Château de Maisons-Lafitte and the Palace of Fontainebleau.
Featuring Baroque details, sweeping staircases, a grand Roman colonnade, vast plazas, and manicured gardens, it offered us a quintessentially ‘Parisian’ look without ever leaving Beijing—the perfect backdrop for Chi Pu’s sophisticated persona.
Beyond the luxury castle, we also utilized its abandoned service quarters and warehouses. This provided a raw, post-industrial contrast, allowing us to capture two completely different ‘worlds’ without ever leaving the estate.
2. The Alien Landscape: West Dashen Fortress (Ming Garrison Ruins)
In contrast to the luxury of the European castle, we needed a raw, desolate, and ‘otherworldly’ look. We found it at West Dashen Fortress, a 600-year-old Ming Dynasty garrison in Zhangjiakou. Built from packed yellow earth, centuries of wind and rain have carved its walls into jagged, weather-beaten ruins.
Visually, it looks just like a Mars-like Yardang landscape, though it is actually an eroded earthen fortress, not a natural rock formation. This haunting mix of ancient history and raw earth gave the ‘alien planet’ scene their dramatic, surreal weight.
3. The LostWorld Forest: Yunyang Fairyland Scenic Area
For the deeper, more mysterious side of the fantasy, we needed a realm reclaimed by nature—ancient, hushed, and forgotten by time. We found it at Yunyang Fairyland on the outskirts of Beijing. Tucked away in the hills, this secluded valley features a clear mountain stream winding through dense woods of tall poplars and elms. The steep, enclosed terrain and thick tree cover created a naturally hushed, hidden setting that served as the perfect foundation for our “lost world” concept.
For international filmmakers seeking filming locations in China, the key isn’t just finding a site; it’s uncovering the hidden potential within reach. These finds allowed us to maximize our budget and minimize transit time, proving that world-class visuals don’t always require a world tour.
Stay tuned for more Production Notes from YUNIQUE PICTURES
as we continue to map out the best-kept secrets for filming in China.
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