Maps of Movies
The Last Emperor (1987)
Where The Last Emperor says it takes place, and where it was really shot.
The Forbidden City is real, but the prison cells and the Manchukuo council room were sets built in Rome.
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Scenes and places
Puyi arrives at Fushun Prison (1950)
In 1950, Puyi arrives at Fushun Prison as a political prisoner and war criminal. Soon after, he tries to take his own life and is rescued.
Set in Fushun War Criminals Management Centre — The prison in northeast China where the film's 1950 frame story begins. Google Maps · Apple Maps
The prison where Puyi's story is told in flashback.
Filmed at Suifenhe Station, Heilongjiang — A Japanese Wikipedia sentence gives Suifenhe Station for the arrival scene. Another source (Hello magazine) says the opening was filmed at Changchun railway station. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
Interrogation in the prison cells (1950)
Under the Communist re-education program, Puyi is pushed by his interrogators to renounce his collaboration with the Japanese.
Set in Fushun War Criminals Management Centre — The cells and interrogation rooms where Puyi is questioned about his years under the Japanese. Google Maps · Apple Maps
A film set in Rome stands in for the prison interiors.
Filmed at Cinecittà Studios, Rome — Italian and Japanese Wikipedia name Cinecittà in Rome as the studio where the prison interiors were built. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
Cixi summons the child (1908)
A toddler Puyi is summoned to the Forbidden City by the dying Empress Dowager Cixi. She tells him that he is to be the next emperor.
Set in Forbidden City, Beijing — The palace where the dying Empress Dowager receives the toddler. Google Maps · Apple Maps
A set in Beijing stands in for her chamber.
The coronation (1908)
After his coronation, Puyi, frightened by his new surroundings, repeatedly says he wants to go home, but is denied.
Set in Hall of Supreme Harmony, Forbidden City — The throne hall where the child is crowned. Google Maps · Apple Maps
The largest hall of the Forbidden City.
Filmed at Hall of Supreme Harmony, Forbidden City — The coronation was filmed in the real hall during the eight-week permitted shoot. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
Growing up inside the walls (1919)
Confined to the palace, Puyi is visited by his brother, gets a Western tutor in 1919, marries Wanrong and then dismisses the palace eunuchs.
Set in Forbidden City, Beijing — The outer courtyards where Puyi grows up, studies with Johnston and marries. Google Maps · Apple Maps
Only the outer court and the Hall of Supreme Harmony were permitted.
Filmed at Outer courtyard and Hall of Supreme Harmony area, Forbidden City — English and Italian Wikipedia say only the outer courtyard and the Hall of Supreme Harmony were permitted for filming. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
A garden inside the palace (1920)
Puyi's palace days include a garden scene.
Set in Forbidden City, Beijing — The imperial gardens where Puyi's palace life is shown. Google Maps · Apple Maps
Filmed at the Summer Palace, per two sources.
Filmed at Summer Palace, Beijing — Japanese Wikipedia and Hello magazine list the Summer Palace for the garden scenes. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
The ball at the British club (1925)
Exiled to Tientsin, Puyi leads a decadent life as a playboy and Anglophile.
Set in British club, Tientsin — A ball in the British club of the Tientsin concession.
A spa town in northern Italy stands in for the Tientsin club.
Filmed at Palazzo dei Congressi, Salsomaggiore Terme — Italian Wikipedia says the Tientsin ball was filmed in this congress hall in Italy. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
The Japanese legation (1930)
Puyi and Wanrong live in Tientsin, and Puyi sides with Japan after the Mukden Incident.
Set in Japanese legation, Tientsin — The residence where Puyi and his wife live in Tientsin.
A school in Rome stands in for the legation.
Farewell at the Tientsin port (1930)
Puyi's Tientsin years include a farewell with Johnston at the port.
Set in Tientsin port — The harbour of Tientsin.
Dalian's port doubles for Tientsin.
Filmed at Dalian Port, Pier 2 waiting hall — Japanese Wikipedia and Hello magazine say Dalian stood in for Tientsin. The coordinate is for the whole port, not the waiting hall. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
Tientsin at night (1931)
Puyi's playboy years in Tientsin, before he sides with Japan.
Set in Tientsin — A night street in Tientsin.
Dalian's Zhongshan Square doubles for Tientsin.
Filmed at Zhongshan Square, Dalian — One Japanese Wikipedia sentence names the former Yokohama Specie Bank Dalian branch on this square. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
The Manchukuo court (1934)
In 1934 the Japanese crown Puyi Emperor of Manchukuo, but his supposed supremacy is undermined at every turn.
Set in Palace of Manchukuo, Changchun — The palace of the puppet state, now a museum. Google Maps · Apple Maps
The real palace of the puppet state.
Filmed at Museum of the Imperial Palace of Manchukuo, Changchun — The Tongde Hall and entrance hall of the real palace were used for the ball scene. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
The council room and dining hall (1935)
Puyi remains the nominal ruler while Japan holds the real power.
Set in Palace of Manchukuo, Changchun — The council chamber and offices of the palace. Google Maps · Apple Maps
Studio sets in Rome stand in for these interiors.
Filmed at Cinecittà Studios, Rome — Japanese Wikipedia says these interiors were built as sets at Cinecittà. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
Working in the botanical garden (1959)
Released in 1959, Puyi later lives a simple life as a gardener.
Set in Botanical garden, Beijing — The garden where the former emperor works.
The filming site could not be identified.
The Red Guard parade (1967)
Walking home from work in 1967, Puyi happens upon a Red Guard parade.
Set in Beijing street — A street in Beijing during the Cultural Revolution.
The street no longer exists.
The throne in the museum (1967)
Puyi visits the Palace Museum and starts to climb the throne dais.
Set in Palace Museum, Beijing — The Forbidden City as a museum. Google Maps · Apple Maps
The throne hall, seen in the film's last act.
Filmed at Palace Museum, Forbidden City — The museum scenes were filmed in the real palace. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
Characters
- Puyi — The last emperor of China, from child to prisoner to gardener.
- Reginald Johnston — The Scottish tutor who gives Puyi a Western education.
- Wanrong — Puyi's wife, who succumbs to opium addiction.
- Jin Yuan — The warden of the Fushun Prison.