Oriental Movie Metropolis

Oriental Movie Metropolis is a film, television, tourism, and entertainment development in Qingdao, Shandong, China. Conceived as a major integrated production base, it combines studio facilities with attractions and commercial infrastructure intended to support both media production and destination tourism. The project is located approximately 25 kilometres from central Qingdao on land that was previously largely undeveloped and forms part of a broader coastal redevelopment scheme. The complex was initiated and funded principally by Dalian Wanda Group under Wang Jianlin. Wanda presented the development as a Chinese answer to Hollywood: a production hub capable of hosting domestic and international projects while also providing hotels, retail, cultural attractions, convention facilities, theme parks, and related services. The owners promoted the names “Movie Metropolis of the East” and “Hollywood of the East” to express the project’s intended international orientation. The planned development covers approximately 376 hectares and includes sound stages, film and television production facilities, a temperature-controlled underwater stage, and a large indoor stage. The wider master plan also included a film museum, a celebrity wax museum, an IMAX research laboratory, a convention centre, cinemas, shopping, resort hotels, indoor theme parks, a marina, international schools, and an international hospital. Some elements were designed to be supported economically by nearby residential development, whose sales benefited from proximity to the studios and leisure facilities. A ceremonial launch in September 2013 attracted prominent international and Chinese film personalities and was used to signal the project’s global ambitions. The facility was officially opened on 28 April 2018, although contemporary plans described further construction and operational expansion continuing during 2018. Project material anticipated annual production of approximately 130 films, including foreign productions, but the available reference material does not establish that these targets were achieved. Oriental Movie Metropolis was developed during a period when Wanda was expanding from property and cinemas into international entertainment. Wanda’s acquisition of AMC Theatres and Legendary Entertainment formed part of that wider media strategy and created potential links between exhibition, production, and intellectual property. The company later faced substantial debt pressure and transferred ownership of the facility to Sunac China Holdings, another Chinese real-estate developer. This ownership change altered the corporate context of the project but did not change its identity as a Qingdao-based production and entertainment complex.

Oriental Movie Metropolis emerged from Dalian Wanda Group’s effort to build an integrated entertainment platform combining real-estate development, cinema exhibition, film production, tourism, and hospitality. The project was planned for a previously undeveloped area roughly 25 kilometres from central Qingdao and was designed as part of a much larger redevelopment. Residential construction near the studios was intended to help finance the wider scheme by monetising the value created by the media and leisure facilities. The project’s strategic context was Wanda’s rapid expansion in the international entertainment sector. In 2012, Wanda acquired AMC Theatres, giving the group a major presence in North American cinema exhibition, although later share transactions reduced its majority control. Wanda subsequently pursued international film assets, including its agreement in 2016 to acquire Legendary Entertainment. These investments gave Oriental Movie Metropolis a potential connection to an international production and distribution network rather than positioning it solely as a domestic studio park. Wanda staged a major ceremonial launch for Oriental Movie Metropolis on 22 September 2013. The event brought together internationally known performers and industry figures, as well as prominent Chinese film personalities. Its purpose was both promotional and strategic: it presented Qingdao as an emerging global production location and framed the development as an eastern counterpart to Hollywood. The project was promoted under descriptions such as “Movie Metropolis of the East” and “Hollywood of the East.” The master plan covered approximately 376 hectares. It called for film and television stages alongside a film museum, wax museum, IMAX research laboratory, cinemas, a convention centre, shopping, resort hotels, indoor theme parks, a marina, international schools, and an international hospital. Production infrastructure included a temperature-controlled underwater stage and a very large indoor stage. The combination of specialized facilities and visitor-oriented amenities was intended to make the site both a working studio and a destination resort. Project plans forecast production of around 130 films annually, including approximately 30 foreign movies. Those figures represented development goals rather than verified historical output. The reference material also states that the complex was planned to become fully operational in August 2018, while its official opening took place on 28 April 2018. This distinction reflects a phased development in which opening ceremonies and public operation preceded the completion or ramp-up of all planned components. The project received a connection to major international franchise filmmaking when Legendary announced in October 2016 that Godzilla: King of the Monsters would film at the facility, alongside production associated with Pacific Rim: Uprising. These announcements helped demonstrate the intended use of the site as an international production base, although the available material does not provide a complete account of the films’ shooting schedules or the volume of work ultimately carried out there. Wanda’s ownership later became difficult to sustain as the group faced increasing debt pressure. Ownership of Oriental Movie Metropolis was transferred to Sunac China Holdings, another major Chinese real-estate developer. The transaction placed the complex within a different corporate structure and illustrated the financial risks of Wanda’s earlier strategy of combining large property developments with ambitious international media expansion. Despite the ownership change, the facility remains identified with Qingdao’s film-production and entertainment infrastructure.

• 2018

  Official opening

  [1]Oriental Movie Metropolisen.wikipedia.org

  The complex officially opened on 28 April 2018, while development of some planned components continued as part of the broader master plan.

• 2016

  Legendary production link announced

  [1]Oriental Movie Metropolisen.wikipedia.org

  Legendary announced that Godzilla: King of the Monsters would film at the facility, with the project also associated with Pacific Rim: Uprising.

• 2013

  Ceremonial launch in Qingdao

  [1]Oriental Movie Metropolisen.wikipedia.org

  Oriental Movie Metropolis held a high-profile launch event on 22 September, presenting the project as an internationally oriented Chinese film hub.

• 2012

  Wanda expands its international entertainment platform

  [1]Oriental Movie Metropolisen.wikipedia.org

  Dalian Wanda acquired AMC Theatres, strengthening the corporate strategy that connected cinema exhibition, entertainment real estate, and planned film-production infrastructure.

• Ownership transferred to Sunac

  [1]Oriental Movie Metropolisen.wikipedia.org

  Wanda transferred ownership of the facility to Sunac China Holdings after Wanda came under pressure from rising debt.

An integrated Chinese film-production and entertainment destination positioned as an internationally capable alternative to established Hollywood studio infrastructure.

• Production infrastructure · 2018

  Film and television studios

  The core offering is a large studio complex intended for domestic and international film and television production. It includes sound stages and specialized production spaces designed to accommodate projects at different scales. The development was marketed as a technologically advanced alternative to established international studio locations, although the available reference material does not document the complete operating inventory or utilization rate.

• Production infrastructure · 2018

  Underwater and specialty stages

  Oriental Movie Metropolis was planned to include a temperature-controlled underwater stage and one of the world’s largest indoor stages. These facilities were intended to support technically demanding productions requiring controlled environments, water work, large sets, or protection from Qingdao’s outdoor weather conditions.

• Tourism and leisure · 2018

  Film and entertainment destination

  The wider complex combines production with visitor attractions and commercial services. Planned elements included a film museum, celebrity wax museum, cinemas, an IMAX research laboratory, convention facilities, shopping, resort hotels, indoor theme parks, and a marina. Together these features were intended to create a year-round entertainment destination rather than a studio compound serving production crews alone.

• Wanda's debt-driven sale of the studio to Sunac

  Source

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• 2013Hollywood of the East launch positioning

  China · International

  Wanda used the September 2013 launch event and the “Hollywood of the East” positioning to introduce Oriental Movie Metropolis as a globally capable Chinese production centre. The appearance of international and Chinese film figures gave the project visibility beyond the property sector.

  Outcome. The launch established the project’s international branding and public profile, although the reference material does not quantify its commercial results.

  Source

• 2018

  Officially open the Qingdao production and entertainment complexProduct launch

  Background

  After several years of construction and promotion, Wanda brought the development into official operation while the broader master plan continued to include phased facilities.

  Action taken

  Oriental Movie Metropolis officially opened on 28 April 2018.

  Aftermath

  The opening established the site as a functioning Qingdao studio and entertainment development. The reference material does not provide verified production volumes or completion data for every planned component.

  Source

• 2016

  Connect the facility with international franchise productionStrategy

  Background

  Wanda was building an international media portfolio through cinema exhibition and its acquisition of Legendary Entertainment. A Qingdao production link offered a way to demonstrate that Oriental Movie Metropolis could serve large international projects.

  Action taken

  Legendary announced that Godzilla: King of the Monsters would film at Oriental Movie Metropolis, alongside production associated with Pacific Rim: Uprising.

  Aftermath

  The announcement gave the facility an association with major Hollywood franchise production. The available sources do not establish the full extent of filming or any resulting financial performance.

  Source

• Transfer ownership from Wanda to SunacM&A

  Background

  Wanda’s expansion into property and international entertainment created significant financial exposure, and rising debt pressure led the group to dispose of selected assets.

  Action taken

  Ownership of Oriental Movie Metropolis was transferred to Sunac China Holdings.

  Aftermath

  The facility moved into Sunac’s corporate portfolio. The available source does not specify the transaction date or terms.

  Source

1. 1Oriental Movie Metropolisen.wikipedia.org