Visitors take part in a short drama production at Hengdian World Studios in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, in August. CHINA DAILY

Dressed in an elaborate period costume, Sun Kemin stood on the set of an ancient Chinese street at Hengdian World Studios — the country's largest film and television production base in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, preparing for a confrontation.

She was the descendant of a family that had mastered the traditional craft of ronghua, or velvet flowers.

Her best friend, playing the villain, had secretly learned the technique and was passing it off as her own. Now the two were competing for the chance to have their work chosen as a tribute for the imperial court.

Then came the problem: they could not stop laughing.

In one scene, her friend had to throw a velvet flower at her. The moment their eyes met, both broke character.

"We had to do it again and again," said Sun, a university student in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. "The hardest part was not laughing. When you make eye contact with the other actor, you suddenly get nervous."

Just days earlier, Sun had no plans to visit Hengdian. Then she and her friend came across videos on social media showing tourists filming their own short dramas at the sprawling film and television complex. They made their decision on Aug 17 and were on set two days later.

After choosing a script, costumes, hair, and makeup, the two women headed to one of Hengdian's large-scale historical sets. With a director coaching them and NPCs, or nonplayer characters, playing supporting roles, they spent about an hour filming their story.

The experience cost 388 yuan ($54) each, including costumes, makeup, filming, and a finished video. She later posted the result on her social media account, prompting a stream of questions from friends about the price and how to book the experience.

Her video was not the result of months of acting lessons. She had no professional training and admitted that watching herself on screen was a little embarrassing.

"But it was so much fun," she said.

For the young visitor, the appeal went beyond taking photos at a famous tourist attraction. The idea of entering a real film set and becoming part of a story was more tempting than a conventional sightseeing trip.

"You can come and see the scenery and take pictures," she said. "But acting in a drama gives you a very unique experience and memory. We can watch this video together again later."

For Sun, the first experience may not be the last. She and her friend are already talking about returning to Hengdian and trying different roles. Next time, she said, she might play the villain.

Her experience is part of a growing trend at Hengdian, Zhejiang province, where tourists are increasingly stepping out of the role of spectators and into the spotlight.

Instead of simply touring sets or dressing up for photographs, visitors can now choose a script, transform themselves through costume and makeup, receive one-on-one coaching and film a short drama on location.

The popularity of the experience has caught even those working behind the camera by surprise.

"It suddenly became very popular this summer," said Wu Yizhuo, a director who films short dramas for visitors in Hengdian.

On a busy day, Wu said, he may direct 14 or 15 groups, and sometimes as many as 20. Each production is short — usually one or two minutes — but getting an inexperienced tourist through the process can require plenty of improvisation and patience.

The model itself is not entirely new. Hengdian had offered filmmaking experiences to visitors as early as 2007, Wu said, but they were mainly designed for tour groups of 20 or 30 people.

The rise of short dramas has changed that.

"Now, even one person or two people can come and experience what it feels like to be an actor," he said.

Tourists forget lines, become nervous or burst into laughter. Wu said he tries not to put them under pressure.

"If there are 10 words, maybe I'll ask them to remember five first," he said. "Then we change the camera angle, and they remember the other five."

For gestures and emotional scenes, Wu, 43, who was an actor before taking on a career as a director, often acts them out himself, showing visitors exactly how to move or deliver a line.

"Some people are much better than you would expect," he said.

Most customers are young women in their 20s, Wu said, though families and children are also joining in. Even foreign visitors have tried the experience, including those who speak Chinese and others who rely on translators.

Yuliia, who is half Russian and half Georgian and now lives and works in Sanya, Hainan province, went to experience the short drama shooting experience in Hengdian in April, 2025. She played roles of the popular TV drama Empresses in the Palace.

"This foreigner came to Hengdian and made her own Empresses in the Palace. You can let loose here without ever feeling alone — everyone is in character, and every glance feels like a scene. It's incredibly fun!" she shared on her Xiaohongshu platform, which has about 670,000 followers.