Growing with Hengdian with Aspiration and Passion

When I was a child, whenever I saw magnificent palaces and their glorious decorations in TV series, I would wonder: Do these palaces really exist? Did TV crew have to build such a palace just for this TV series? At that time, I did not expect that more than a decade later, I would be working in those familiar scenes from the TV series I used to watch, becoming an employee of this film studio that replicates the architectures of thousands of years ago with diversified regional characteristics.

I come from Xianyang, Shaanxi Province, and my major in university was cultural industry management. In the fall of 2016, after graduating from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, I returned to the mainland of China to find a job, and I attended the campus job fair of Hengdian Group by chance. It was “by chance” because I had never thought of working in a film studio. At that time, most of the positions I applied for were from media and Internet companies, and my dream offices were always located in metropolises such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. However, Hengdian, a small town but known as "Chinawood", had drawn my attention. As an inspiring icon in China's film and television industry, it is such a unique place with unparalleled scale, status and influence.

Therefore, I joined Hengdian Group with a wish that more people would recognize Hengdian’s value. I have always believed that culture is powerful, not only socially and economically, but ideologically as well. However, the influence of film and television culture on each of us is often overlooked. For example, when I recommended friends from our cooperation organizations to visit the "Palaces of Ming and Qing Dynasties” in Hengdian, they would say, "There is no point visiting Hengdian if one has been to the Forbidden City. Nothing different there." Then I would explain with a smile, " The Forbidden City in films and televisions isn’t necessarily the same as the real one.” Indeed, 90% of the "Forbidden City" in today's film and televisions are actually shot at the Palaces of Ming and Qing Dynasties in Hengdian, which precisely reflects the charm of films and TV series.

After joining Hengdian Group, I was offered plenty of opportunities to work in different positions: from the strategic research at headquarters to the cultural and creative planning, We Media management, event planning, strategic planning, and investment management for Hengdian World Studios. I also improved my skills in different fields, such as copywriting, video making and editing, on-site organization of events and business negotiations. In the past four years, I was transferred to a different position almost every year, which has changed me from a person who was afraid of changes to one who actively embraces changes. I am happy and proud since the work experience in different positions has allowed me to grow with Hengdian Group. Meanwhile, I always bear in mind my original aspiration, that is, to help Hengdian become popular among more young people.

In order to develop more creative and high-quality products and help the brand and IP of Hengdian gain more popularity amongst young people, I still have to keep learning and improving in many aspects. Now, whenever I feel stressed, I would go for a walk on the streets of Hengdian, to find what changes have been made to this lovely little town. Every change here always inspires and encourages me to keep moving forward.