The Last Emperor (1987) – Filming Locations
Drama / History · Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci · Starring John Lone, Joan Chen
A dramatic history of Pu Yi, the last of the Emperors of China, from his lofty birth and brief reign in the Forbidden City, the object of worship by half a billion people; through his abdication, his decline and dissolute lifestyle; his exploitation by the invading Japanese, and finally to his obscure existence as just another peasant worker in the People's Republic.
Where was The Last Emperor filmed?
- Beijing, China, Beijing – Interior and exterior scenes of Emperor Puyi's palace and daily life within the imperial compound. Bertolucci was the first Western filmmaker granted permission to shoot inside the Forbidden City; extensive interior and exterior sequences were filmed throughout the palace complex
- Changchun, China, Changchun – Puyi's life as emperor of the Japanese puppet state Manchukuo during World War II. The film documents Puyi's role as a puppet ruler; the Changchun Imperial Palace served as the headquarters of the Japanese-controlled Manchukuo regime
- Hong Kong, China, Hong Kong – Puyi's exile period and escape scenes during the transition from imperial to modern China. Hong Kong served as a filming location for sequences depicting Puyi's exile and the chaos of post-imperial China
- Jilin Province, China, Jilin – Scenes depicting Puyi's imprisonment and re-education during the Communist era. Principal photography took place extensively throughout Jilin Province to capture the landscape and backdrop of Puyi's final years in Communist-controlled Manchuria