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**Tianlongbabu Film City** (天龙八部影视城) is a costume-drama studio and theme park on the western edge of Dali Old Town, built in 2002 for Zhang Jizhong's TV adaptation of Jin Yong's wuxia novel *Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils*. It sits at the foot of Cangshan Mountain and serves as the base station for the **Cimatan cableway**.📍 Basics
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | West of Dali Old Town, ~1.5 km from the ancient city gates |
| Area | ~274 mu (18 hectares), 146 buildings |
| Rating | National 4A Tourist Attraction |
| Duration | 1.5–3 hours |
| Best season | March–April (mild weather, good for photography) |
🎫 Tickets
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | ~CNY 40–52 |
| Student | ~CNY 20 (with ID) |
| Combo with Cimatan cableway | Usually included in the Cimatan ticket (CNY 275–335) — no extra charge |
| Combo with Gantong cableway | ~CNY 122 |
Discounts: Children under 1.2 m free; 1.2–1.4 m and students half price; seniors 70+ and military free.
⚠️ Note: The park has undergone periodic maintenance closures. Verify current opening status on the “Travel Yunnan” app or by calling 0872-2674428 before visiting.
⏰ Hours
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Generally: 08:00–17:00 or 08:30–17:30
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Last entry ~17:00
🗺️ Main Zones & Sights
The park is divided into four themed areas replicating kingdoms from the novel:
| Zone | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Dali Kingdom | The main gate, imperial palace, and Dali Street. The palace is gilded and grand, built in Song-dynasty style with Bai ethnic touches. |
| Zhennan Prince’s Mansion | The residence of Duan Zhengchun from the story — complete with main hall, bedchamber, and garden. |
| Western Xia Palace | Open, wall-less architecture with exotic steppe flavor. |
| Khitan / Jurchen Tribe | Thatched halls and huts evoking the northern wilderness. |
| Zhenlong Chess Formation | A giant outdoor weiqi (go) board installation. |
| Juxian Manor | The scene of key plot events involving Qiao Feng and A Zhu. |
🎭 Live Shows
| Show | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| City Gate Opening Ceremony | 09:00, 14:00 | Dali Kingdom main gate |
| Throwing the Embroidered Ball | Rotating | Near Western Xia Palace |
| Imperial Procession | Random | Main streets |
| NPC Character Interactions | All day | Various points |
Showtimes are approximate and subject to change.
🚌 Getting There
| From | Method | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Dali Old Town | Walk | ~30 min (1.5 km) west |
| Dali Old Town | Taxi/Didi | ~CNY 6–10, 5–10 min |
| Xiaguan (Dali city) | Bus 4 | Direct to the park entrance |
| Self-drive | GPS “Tianlongbabu Film City” | Parking ~CNY 5 |
💡 Tips
1. Pair it with Cimatan Cableway (Best Value) The park is the base station for the Cimatan cableway up Cangshan Mountain. Most visitors do:
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Morning: Cable car to summit / Cimatan Lake
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Afternoon: Explore the film city on the way down (already included in your cableway ticket)
2. Costume Rental You can rent traditional Hanfu or wuxia-style costumes (~CNY 50–100) to pose in the palace courtyards and mansions. It’s cheesy but fun.
3. Photography
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Best light: Morning (soft, golden)
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Best backdrops: The imperial palace, Zhennan Mansion, and Western Xia Palace
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March–April is ideal when flowers are blooming around the complex
4. Honest Assessment If you have zero interest in Jin Yong’s novels or Chinese period dramas, this is essentially a collection of fake ancient buildings and may feel underwhelming. However, if you’re already taking the Cimatan cableway, it’s worth a 1-hour wander since the ticket is essentially free.
🗓️ Suggested Itinerary
Half-Day (Film City Only)
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09:00 Arrive → Gate Opening Ceremony
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09:30–11:30 Explore palace, mansion, chess board, tribal zone
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11:30–12:00 Watch street performances, costume photos
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12:00 Return to Old Town for lunch
Full Day (Film City + Cangshan Mountain)
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08:30 Enter film city → Cimatan cableway up
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09:30–14:00 Summit, Cimatan Lake, Qilongnvchi pools
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14:30 Back at base → Gate Opening Ceremony / park stroll
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16:00 Return to Dali Old Town
📞 Useful Info
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Phone: 0872-2674428 / 400-900-1558
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Booking: “Travel Yunnan” app, “Dali Tourism Group” WeChat, Ctrip, Meituan
In short: Worth it if you’re a wuxia fan or combining with the Cimatan cableway. Skip it if you’re short on time and prefer natural scenery over fake ancient sets.