Filming in Beijing: A Comprehensive Guide

Planning a video shoot in Beijing? As the capital of China, Beijing offers a unique mix of ancient heritage and modern infrastructure, making it one of the most dynamic filming destinations in Asia. This comprehensive guide is designed for international filmmakers, producers, and brands who are looking to navigate Beijing video production, film permits, crew hiring, and more.

Whether you’re producing a corporate video, documentary, commercial, or branded content, this guide will help you manage everything from location permits to post-production resources.

filming in Beijing guide

🎥 Why Choose Beijing for Film & Video Production?

Beijing is a cinematic city, home to iconic landmarks such as:

  • The Forbidden City
  • Tiananmen Square
  • The Great Wall of China
  • Temple of Heaven
  • 798 Art District

In addition to cultural richness, the city offers professional video production services, local crews, high-end equipment rental houses, and world-class post-production studios. Whether you’re filming social media content or a full-scale Chinese film, Beijing is fully equipped.

🧑‍💼 Local Crew & Production Services in Beijing

Beijing boasts a deep talent pool for film and video production. You can find:

  • Directors, DOPs / Cinematographers
  • Camera Operators / Videographers
  • Producers, Assistant Directors
  • Sound Engineers, Gaffers, Grips
  • Makeup Artists, Stylists
  • Location Managers, Fixers
  • Prop Handlers, Pet Trainers
  • Photographers & Drone Operators

🎬 Typical shoot day: 10 hours (excluding meal breaks)
🛡️ Insurance: Film production insurance available upon request

📍 Filming Permits & Location Access in Beijing

Navigating location permits in China requires experience. Here’s what you need to know:

🔒 Government vs. Private Locations:

  • Privately Owned Locations: Easier to access; typically require a fee.
  • Government-Owned Locations: Require formal application and advance notice.

Shooting in public areas without permits is officially prohibited, though small-scale vlogging with phones or handheld cameras is generally tolerated.

⚠️ Popular Filming Spots May Require:

  • Location fees
  • Crew size disclosures
  • Shooting schedule
  • Government approval (for drone or politically sensitive areas)

Contact us to help secure your China filming permits and location access.

🎬 Studio Rental in Beijing

Beijing has a wide variety of studios for:

  • Commercial and narrative filming
  • Corporate interview setups
  • Livestream productions
  • Virtual LED stage shooting
  • Photography and e-commerce

Studios range from small turnkey spaces to full-scale sound stages with lighting grids and green screens.

🎒 Bringing Equipment to Beijing – ATA Carnet Info

If you’re bringing gear into China, ATA Carnet is the safest method. However, it’s not foolproof:

  • Always confirm customs procedures ahead of your shoot
  • List all camera, lens, and grip equipment with serial numbers
  • Expect possible inspection at Beijing Capital or Daxing airports

Alternatively, consider renting locally—see below.

🎥 Equipment Rental in Beijing

Beijing is home to many equipment rental houses offering:

  • Cameras: Arri Alexa, RED, Sony, Canon
  • Lenses: Zeiss, Cooke, Angenieux, Arri
  • Lighting: Aputure, Arri Skypanel, Kino Flo
  • Grip: Dollies, jibs, sliders, cranes
  • Sound: Boom, lav, field recorders
  • Drones: DJI Mavic, Inspire (pilot license required)

We can help you compare rates and availability.

💻 Post-Production Resources in Beijing

Beijing offers comprehensive post-production support:

  • Offline/Online Editing
  • Color Grading (DaVinci Resolve)
  • Sound Design, Mixing & Voiceover
  • VFX, Animation & Subtitling
  • Delivery for broadcast, OTT, or social media

We can connect you with trusted post houses or coordinate everything through our own team.

🌤️ Weather, Seasons & Air Pollution

Beijing has four seasons:

  • 🌸 Spring: Mild, but dusty
  • ☀️ Summer: Hot and humid, with rainfall
  • 🍂 Autumn: Cool and clear—ideal filming conditions
  • ❄️ Winter: Dry and cold, with occasional snow

🛑 Air Quality: Monitor the AQI before filming. Filtration masks and indoor studio options are available for poor-air days.

🚁 Drone Filming in Beijing

Strict regulations apply:

  • Drones are not permitted in central districts
  • A drone pilot license is required
  • Maximum flight height and distance are restricted
  • Special permissions are needed for aerial shots in sensitive zones

We offer licensed drone teams and can guide you through the approval process.

  • Tourist Visa (L)
    Suitable for location scouting or very small non-commercial projects. Not ideal for formal or commercial filming.
  • Business Visa (M)
    Often used for short-term, non-broadcast production. Technically valid for attending shoots, meetings, and assisting production, but not ideal for appearing on camera.
  • Work Visa (Z)
    Required if you’re being hired by a Chinese entity or appearing on camera as a performer. This visa allows for long-term stays and requires a sponsoring employer in China.
  • Journalist Visa (J2)(Ideal for Documentary Shoots)
    For foreign media professionals covering news, documentaries, or non-fiction broadcast content, the J2 visa is often necessary.
    • Valid for short-term press activities, including documentary filming.
    • Must be sponsored by a licensed local media organization or coordinated via China’s Foreign Affairs Office.
    • Advance application is required with detailed information about the subject, crew, and filming schedule.

📌 Important Note: J2 visas can take time to secure and may involve oversight by Chinese media authorities. If you’re producing a documentary, be prepared to submit an outline, crew bios, and intended filming locations.

🏨 Accommodation & Daily Costs

Average Budget Estimates:

  • Hotel: $100–$200 USD/night
  • Meals: $10–$50 USD/day
  • Transportation: $150–$200 USD/day (van with driver)
  • App Transport: Didi or Meituan (local Uber/Lyft equivalents)

We help arrange lodging, meals, and van rentals as part of our production services.

✈️ Airports & Transportation Access

Beijing has two major international airports:

  • Beijing Capital International (PEK)
  • Beijing Daxing International (PKX)

Train stations:

  • Beijing Railway Station
  • Beijing South / West Stations (High-speed trains to Shanghai, Hong Kong, etc.)

🎯 Your Beijing Film Production Partner

At Shoot In China, we offer complete production support:

  • Local bilingual producers & fixers
  • Equipment sourcing
  • Crew hiring
  • Permits & location scouting
  • Logistics, hotels, catering
  • On-set coordination
  • Post-production handling

🎬 “From branded content and corporate films to global campaigns—we’ve helped international clients film seamlessly in Beijing since 2012.”

📧 Contact us today: [email protected]
🌐 www.shootinchina.com