Dongyang

Dongyang is a city in Zhejiang.

Dongyang (东阳; Dōngyáng) is a county-level city in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China. It is known as the "Home of Woodcarving" and the "Hollywood of the East" because it is home to both Dongyang woodcarving and Hengdian World Studios, one of the largest film and television shooting bases in the world.

Dongyang is located in central Zhejiang, about 1.5–2 hours by car from Hangzhou. It has a population of around 1.09 million. The city has a history of more than 1,800 years and was praised in ancient poems as a place of fine landscape. There are two main areas for visitors:

• Dongyang city – Luzhai Residence, China Woodcarving Museum, Dongyang Woodcarving Town, and nearby ancient villages.
• Hengdian town – Hengdian World Studios, the film and TV theme parks, and Wan Sheng Street.

Dongyang is also known for Dongyang bamboo weaving and traditional building crafts. The local culture is closely tied to woodcarving, tea, and small-town market life.

Dongyang has a humid subtropical climate. Summers are hot and humid, winters are cold and damp, and typhoons are possible in late summer and early autumn. The best seasons to visit are spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November).

• Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH) – the nearest major international airport. By car, it takes about 2 hours to reach Dongyang or Hengdian.
• Yiwu Airport (YIW) – closer to Dongyang. A taxi to Dongyang city or Hengdian takes about 30–40 minutes.

• Hengdian Station – on the Hangzhou–Wenzhou high-speed railway. From Hangzhou West, the journey takes about 40–60 minutes.
• Yiwu Station – a major high-speed rail hub on the Shanghai–Kunming line. From Hangzhou, it takes about 30–40 minutes. From Yiwu Station, take a bus or taxi to Dongyang or Hengdian; the trip takes about 40 minutes.

From Hangzhou, drive via the G60 and connecting expressways. The journey usually takes 1.5–2 hours. From Yiwu, Dongyang is about 30 minutes away by car. Traffic can be heavy around Hengdian on weekends and public holidays.

• Dongyang Passenger Transport Center – has frequent buses to Hengdian and connections to Yiwu, Jinhua, and Hangzhou.

Dongyang city is fairly compact. Taxis and ride-hailing apps such as Didi are cheap; most trips inside the city cost under ¥15. A taxi from Dongyang city to Hengdian takes about 30 minutes.

Local buses cost about ¥2. In Hengdian, free shuttle buses connect the main scenic areas. Tourist buses and taxis are also available. Wear comfortable walking shoes, especially for Hengdian, where a full day can involve a lot of walking.

• {{see

• 29.273120.2391 Dongyang Museum (东阳市博物馆). 08:30–17:00 (winter), 08:30–17:30 (summer); closed Mondays. A comprehensive county-level museum holding over 28,000 artefacts, including a permanent "Dragon Dongyang" dinosaur exhibition. It complements the Woodcarving Museum: one tells the story of a craft, the other tells the story of the place. The official government page lists it at 77 Chengnan East Road. Free.  

• 29.279120.2432 Luzhai Residence (卢宅). 08:30–17:00. A Ming–Qing residential complex built by the Lu family over five centuries, often called the "Folk Forbidden City." The centrepiece is the Suyong Hall, which houses a giant lantern made from 400,000 coloured glass beads, a Guinness World Record. The density of Dongyang woodcarving on the beams is the main reason to linger. Listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level. ¥65.  

• 29.179068120.2980833 Hengdian World Studios (横店影视城). A lot of movies are created in here, like Curse of the Golden Flower (满城尽带黄金甲), The Forbidden Kingdom (功夫之王) and The Warlords (投名状) and so on, 380 km away from Shanghai and 18 km away from Dongyang's center. If you are in Hengdian, there are many buses, one bus per 15 minutes, costing ¥1 per each person. Also you can take taxi (10 minutes, ¥20). Tickets for the movie city of Hengdian cost ¥380, for all of the 8 scenic region.  

• 29.285120.2454 China Woodcarving Museum (中国木雕博物馆). Usually 09:00–17:00, closed Mondays except public holidays. A museum dedicated to Chinese woodcarving. Exhibitions cover the history of woodcarving, social life and carved decoration, and woodcarving traditions from around the world. A good introduction before visiting Luzhai or buying woodcarving products. Free.  (updated Sep 2026)

• 29.31120.285 Dongyang Woodcarving Town (东阳木雕小镇), Liushi Subdistrict. Daytime. A small 3A-level cultural tourism town with several exhibition halls, workshops, and craft shops. Suitable for a half-day visit if you are interested in woodcarving and local crafts. Free.  (updated Sep 2026)

• 29.33120.46 Li Zhai and Cai Zhai Ancient Villages (李宅、蔡宅). Daytime. Traditional villages with preserved Ming and Qing buildings. They are often visited together with Luzhai by car. Good for photography and for seeing rural Zhejiang life away from the main tourist areas. Free or small charges for some halls.  (updated Sep 2026)

• 29.385120.4057 Dongbai Mountain (东白山). A free hiking area on the border of Dongyang, Zhuji, and Shengzhou. The main peak, Taibai Peak, reaches 1,194.7 metres and is the highest point of the Huiji Mountain Range. The classic route from Liaozhai Village is roughly 13–14 km with about 950 metres of elevation gain, taking 5.5–6.5 hours. A half-day to full-day alternative to the dense historical sites in the city.  

• 29.13783120.309158 Qin Dynasty Palace (秦王宫). 08:00–17:00. The most architecturally imposing set in Hengdian. Zhang Yimou used its main hall as the Emperor Qin's palace for *Hero*, and the same structure appeared in the TVB drama *A Step into the Past*. The 44.8-metre-high Sihai Guiyi Hall and the 2,289-metre-long city wall give the park a scale that feels closer to monumental architecture than to a theme-park facade. Included in Hengdian multi-park passes.  

• 29.1408120.30859 Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden (清明上河图). 08:00–17:00. A reconstruction of the Song-dynasty cityscape depicted in Zhang Zeduan's painting *Along the River During the Qingming Festival*. The Rainbow Bridge and the market streets are the most photographed sections. NPCs in period costume are dense here, and the park is frequently described as the most photogenic and "lived-in" of Hengdian's sets. Included in Hengdian multi-park passes.  

• 29.1288120.317210 Ming & Qing Palace Garden (明清宫苑). 08:00–17:00. A scaled replica of the Forbidden City's Ming–Qing palace architecture. Red walls, yellow tiles, and axial courtyards make it the set most associated with Qing-dynasty court dramas. If you care about architectural rules and hierarchy rather than photo backdrops, this is the Hengdian park to prioritise after Qin Dynasty Palace. Included in Hengdian multi-park passes.  

• 29.1452120.301811 Guangzhou Street & Hong Kong Street (广州街·香港街). 13:00–20:30 (varies seasonally). Hengdian's first film set, built in 1996 for Xie Jin's *Opium War*. The Guangzhou section covers over 300 mu of 19th-century treaty-port streetscape; the Hong Kong section adds a Victoria Harbour-style waterfront. It is the most "urban" of the Hengdian parks and the one where you are most likely to stumble into an active shoot. Around ¥160 for this park alone.  

• 29.156120.3181 Hengdian World Studios (横店影视城), Hengdian Town. Varies by park; usually 08:00–17:00, with some evening shows. One of the largest film and television shooting bases in the world. Major parks include Qinwang Palace (秦王宫), Along the River During Qingming Festival (清明上河图), Ming-Qing Palace (明清宫苑), Guangzhou–Hong Kong Street (广州街·香港街), and Dream Valley (梦幻谷). Free shuttle buses connect the parks. Check the official WeChat account for current show times; some signature shows may be suspended. Single park ¥160–220; combo tickets are cheaper online.  (updated Sep 2026)

• Woodcarving workshop experience (木雕体验). Usually by reservation. Some workshops in Dongyang and Hengdian offer simple woodcarving or bamboo-weaving experiences. Ask at the China Woodcarving Museum or local craft shops for current options. Varies. (updated Sep 2026)

• 29.157120.3212 Night walk in Hengdian (横店夜游), Wan Sheng Street area. Evening. Wan Sheng Street is lively at night, with snack stalls, shops, and street performances. It is a good place to see the everyday side of Hengdian after the theme parks close. Free.  (updated Sep 2026)

Dongyang is a good place to buy woodcarving and bamboo-weaving products. Small pieces are easier to carry; larger furniture may require shipping. Local specialties include Dongbai tea, dried bamboo shoots, and traditional snacks.

• Wan Sheng Pedestrian Street in Hengdian – souvenirs, snacks, and small shops.
• Dongyang city center – local markets and craft shops around the old town and museum area.

Dongyang food is simple, filling, and often inexpensive. Local specialties include:

• Dongyang womian (东阳沃面) – a thick, rich noodle soup with vegetables and meat.
• Shanglu wonton (上卢馄饨) – small wontons in a light broth.
• Qianxiang mutton (千祥羊肉) – mutton dishes, often served in winter.
• Dongyang chicken pot (东阳土鸡煲) – a hearty chicken stew.
• Nanma meat pie (南马肉饼) – a savory stuffed flatbread.
• Hutata (糊嗒嗒) – a thick, comforting local snack.
• Braised duck head (卤鸭头) – a popular street snack.

• 29.157120.3211 Wan Sheng Pedestrian Street (万盛步行街), Hengdian Town. Late morning to late night. A busy street with many small restaurants and snack stalls. Good for trying several local dishes in one evening. Snacks ¥10–20.  (updated Sep 2026)

• Laotaipo Womian (老太婆沃面). Lunch and dinner. A well-known local noodle shop. The Dongyang womian is the signature dish. ¥15–30. (updated Sep 2026)

Dongyang is not a major nightlife destination, but Hengdian has bars and tea shops around Wan Sheng Street. Local tea, especially Dongbai cloud tea, is worth trying. Many cafes and milk tea shops are found in Dongyang city center and near the scenic areas.

Most travelers choose to stay either in Dongyang city or in Hengdian town.

• Dongyang city – chain hotels are usually good value, around ¥200–350 per night, with free parking.
• Hengdian town – guesthouses and budget hotels near Wan Sheng Street cost around ¥80–150 per person. Mid-range and high-end hotels often offer ticket packages.

• Fengjing Jiali Hotel (丰景嘉丽大酒店), Hengdian. A mid-range option in Hengdian, sometimes sold with Hengdian World Studios ticket packages. Mid-range. (updated Sep 2026)
• Hengdian World Studios Hotel (横店影视城大酒店), Hengdian. Convenient for visitors planning to spend several days in the theme parks. Mid-range. (updated Sep 2026)
• Broadway Mansions (百老汇大厦), Hengdian. One of the more upscale choices in the Hengdian area. Check current packages and shuttle services. High-end. (updated Sep 2026)

• Fire, ☏ 119. 
• Ambulance, ☏ 120. 
• Police, ☏ 110. 

Free Wi-Fi is common in hotels, cafes, and shopping malls. Tourist information centers can provide maps and advice. Mobile payment with Alipay and WeChat Pay is widely used; carrying a small amount of cash is still useful for small shops and buses.

• 29.266273120.2241281 Dongyang People's Hospital.  (updated Oct 2022) ^{[dead link]}

• Yiwu – famous for the International Trade City and a major high-speed rail hub.
• Jinhua – the prefecture-level city, known for Jinhua ham and Double Dragon Cave.
• Hangzhou – West Lake, museums, and the nearest major international airport.
• Xianju – Shenxianju scenic area, good for hiking and nature.
• Wenzhou – coastal city with strong local culture and food.