Beyond the Mirage: Step Into the Living History of Jingtai Great Dunhuang Film City

A Mirage Rising from the Gobi Desert

Rising majestically from the vast plains at the foot of the Qilian Mountains, the Great Dunhuang Film and Television City in Jingtai is often described as a "mirage" manifested into reality. Located in Jingtai County, Baiyin City, Gansu Province, this site sits at an average altitude of 1,600 meters. It serves as a unique cultural immersive space and a national-level film production base, specifically designed to capture the raw, desolate beauty of the Chinese Northwest.

1.The Cinematic: Resurrection of Silk Road Splendor

The origins of this sprawling complex date back to 2004, when it was constructed as the primary filming location for the major television drama The Great Dunhuang. Unlike traditional tourist towns, it was designed with a deep commitment to historical accuracy, featuring 1:1 scale replicas of iconic landmarks such as the Dunhuang Ancient City, the Mogao Caves, and the Western Xia Ancient Battlefields. This architectural dedication allows visitors to step through a "time tunnel," experiencing the confluence of various Silk Road civilizations in a single, cohesive environment.

Architectural and Cultural Fusion

The city is a masterpiece of cultural synthesis, integrating the structural styles of the Western Xia (Xixia) dynasty with the desert aesthetics of the Guazhou region. One of its most striking features is the replica of the Mogao Caves' Nine-Story Building, which stands as a sentinel over the Gobi. Inside the complex, the Western Xia Palace showcases the bold power of nomadic architecture through its use of red, yellow, and white hues. Beyond the palaces, the city includes a "Thousand Buddha Forest" and meticulously recreated ancient market streets, where the wooden eaves and rammed-earth walls evoke the bustling spirit of the ancient Silk Road.

A Sanctuary for Photographers and History Enthusiasts

For travelers, the film city offers a rare opportunity to witness the interaction between human construction and the primal forces of nature. During the "golden hours" of sunrise and sunset, the light transforms the rammed-earth structures into glowing gold, casting long, dramatic shadows across the desert floor. It remains a premier destination for those seeking the "Highland Aesthetics" of the Hexi Corridor, providing a cinematic backdrop that has hosted numerous blockbuster films such as The Myth and The Banquet.