HANGZHOU, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) — Inside the world’s largest single-structure LED studio at the AI Virtual Cinema Base in Deqing, eastern China’s Zhejiang Province, a Hong Kong soccer-themed film was being produced.
The 50-meter-diameter curved screen rendered the main stadium of Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park in real time, with tens of thousands of digital spectators cheering when a goal was scored, creating an immersive experience of being in the real stadium.
Using advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual production techniques, the film base allows film crews to search for different scenes on screen and blend virtual and physical elements to digitally recreate such iconic landscapes, according to facility owner Versatile Media, a virtual production company based in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province.
Niu Cong, project coordinator at Versatile Media, says, “Location shooting is difficult and expensive, especially over long periods of time.” “With ample space and system advantages, a virtual studio meets your creative needs, which is why we brought the entire stadium indoors.”
Niu said more filmmakers are now turning to AI virtual production.
Deqing’s facility in particular reflects a broader push to incorporate AI into filmmaking. Across China, studios are implementing AI and other digital tools.
“For a historical drama, we would spend three months building a set, but later we would have to demolish 80 percent of it,” Niu said. “Virtual assets are now stored in digital libraries and can be reused. They are also easy to light and adjust.”
Since its official opening in July 2025, Deqing Film Facility has hosted more than 30 film projects. With its advanced virtual filming system, this new location quickly became a popular industry hub. In 2026 alone, nearly 10 companies have signed contracts to settle there.
The transition to short dramas generated by AI is also progressing. There are 89 such projects planned this year, and these efforts are powered by our proprietary AI platform.
Meanwhile, in Yangzhou, east China’s Jiangsu province, a local film and television base has built a large-scale constant temperature water scene filming studio. Utilizing digital intelligence technology, it creates realistic huge waves in movies and realizes one-stop shooting of water scenes.
The studio can simulate more than 200 types of waves on the computer, with widths of up to 35 meters and wave heights of up to 3 meters. Underwater shooting depth reaches 11 meters. The water can also be heated up to 32 degrees Celsius in 24 hours, and all water conditions can be adjusted remotely by the operator.
This studio has been involved in multiple film productions and provides realistic water scenes without the need for post-production visual effects. Underwater robots are also deployed to assist with filming.
In the city of Chongqing in southwestern China, a digital set workshop uses an automated platform to switch between scenes with the click of a mouse. Switching takes less than a second, increasing shooting efficiency by 55% and reducing costs on large sets by 90%.
These technological changes are fundamentally changing the way movies are made in China.
“The application of AI technology is not just a tool-level innovation; it will also revolutionize the workflow of film production,” said Wang Xu of the China Science Writers Association.
“AI-powered film and TV production will further drive efficiency and intelligence improvements in the industry,” Wang added. ■