Let your inner kung fu loose on movie set

A water town with a classical style of southern China has been built in the Xiangshan Movie and Television City.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Diehard fans of Chinese martial arts films should not miss the Xiangshan Movie and Television City in Xiangshan county in eastern China's Zhejiang province.

In just one weekend in the town, fans can watch filming, meet their favorite stars and visit movie sets.

Last year, the studio attracted 1 million visitors, a 99-percent increase from 2012. Ticket sales in 2013 were valued at 35 million yuan ($5.64 million). Many popular costume dramas were filmed in the city.

"There are more than 120 such studios in China, but fewer than 10 are still in operation. We are the fastest-growing one," says Chen Jianyu, director of Ningbo Industrial Zone Management Committee of Film Culture.

The journey here starts upon entering the traditional ancient city gate, with a tower used in war scenes that show armies attacking the city. Vendors in ancient costumes sell vegetables, meat and other daily necessities.

Walk on and you will spot two men in period costumes sword-fighting on the balcony of a pavilion. The loser performs a hip-hop dance, causing spectators to break into laughter.

In the teahouse, you can have Chinese tea and melon seeds while watching a qigong master swallow a long sword and an iron ball with a diameter of 5 centimeters. Then the performer will spit out the ball several meters away. It is a secret that has been passed on from generation to generation.

In the small studio for special effects, tourists can make sound effects and dub a classic movie clip. You can make the sound of a lightning strike by swaying a thin steel plate or create the pitter-patter of rain by shaking a box of soybeans. Then you can watch the clip again with your own sound effects and dubbing.