CHINESE CITIES STOCK FOOTAGE
A wide variety of Chinese Cities stock footage clips are available for immediate download from China In a Box as part of our China stock footage library. Most of our clips are HD and offered on a royalty-free basis at a competitive price.
China is a vast country with 665 cities, 36 of which have populations of more than 2 million people. As China has grown, the population has moved from rural to urban areas and now nearly half of Chinese people live in a city or town. As well as the more well-known cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Macau, China in a Box offers stock footage clips of many other regional cities across China and the breadth of our library is growing each month. Click here to see a selection of our China Cities footage.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Beijing | Shanghai | Hong Kong | Shenzhen |
Beijing Stock Footage
Beijing is the capital and the center of government of the People’s Republic of China. Its long history as an important Chinese city is evident from the many relics of Ancient China, such as:
More modern landmarks include the Bird's Nest Stadium and Tiananmen Square, with the Mao Mausoleum and huge portrait of Mao Zedong on the Tiananmen Gate. Click here to see our full selection of Beijing stock footage clips.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Ancient Beijing | Forbidden City | Tiananmen Square | Bird's Nest Stadium |
Beijing is a thriving center for Chinese business, with many foreign companies headquartered in the CBD and Financial Street business districts. A construction boom, particularly in the lead up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, has resulted in modern architecture and skyscrapers throughout the city, but some older hutong areas still remain.
Our Beijing stock footage includes clips of many aspects of Beijing city life:
- Street life – street markets, crowds of Chinese people
- Park life – public keep fit classes, line-dancing, sports like badminton and jianzi, tai chi and Chinese music
- Beijing hutongs – Chinese people hanging out in the alleyways, caged birds and old bicycle carts
- Modern Beijing – office workers at computers, business district, commuting on the subway and by bus, busy traffic at rush hour
- Beijing pollution – ancient landmarks and modern skyscrapers of Beijing shrouded in smog air pollution
Click here to see our selection of Chinese cities stock footage clips.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Beijing Skyline | Beijing Hutong | Beijing Bicycles | Beijing CBD Business District |
Shanghai Stock Footage
Shanghai is the largest city in China with a population of over 18 million people and is a major international center for finance and trade and many foreign businesses have headquarters or offices in Shanghai.
Our Chinese cities stock footage includes scenes of modern Shanghai, including the skyscrapers of Pudong, the Shanghai skyline and construction sites. We have footage of luxury designer shops and bustling crowds of Chinese people on the busy Nanjing Lu shopping street, showing the wealth and affluence of Shanghai and the importance of Shanghai to foreign business in China.
|
 |
 |
 |
| Shanghai Pudong | Shanghai Construction | Shanghai Luxury Shopping | Nanjing Lu Shopping |
Traditional China is represented by our clips of daily life in older areas like the French Concession and the Ancient Town of Qibao, which is a popular tourist destination on the outskirts of the city. Our Shanghai stock footage also includes shots of the colonial architecture of The Bund.
Click here to see our library of Chinese Cities stock footage.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| The Bund, Shanghai | Shanghai | Shanghai French Concession | Qibao Ancient Town |
Hong Kong Stock Footage
Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated cities in the world and also has more skyscrapers than any other world city. It is one of the world's foremost international financial centers and operates under separate political and financial systems than mainland China.
Our Chinese Cities stock footage includes a variety of Hong Kong clips showing the modern city, such as the Hong Kong skyline and skyscrapers, the Central District, which is the main business district of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the Mid-Levels Escalator and busy city traffic.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Hong Kong Skyline | Hong Kong Central District | Mid-Levels Escalator | Hong Kong Skyscrapers |
Our Chinese Cities stock footage selection includes shots of many of Hong Kong's districts and locations, including Victoria Peak, Hong Kong Harbor, Kowloon, the Central District and the Taoist Man Mo Temple.
Our Hong Kong stock footage also includes many scenes of Hong Kong city life, like Chinese people on cellphones, crowds of people on city streets, street vendors in alleyways, markets selling fresh produce, Chinese people shopping and ferries and ships in the harbor.
Click here to see our selection of China Cities stock footage.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Hong Kong Crowds | Chinese Man on Cellphone | Hong Kong Alley | Hong Kong Shopping |
Macau Stock Footage
Macau was a Portuguese Colony until 1999 when sovereignty was returned to China and is the most densely populated place in the world. Our Macau stock footage includes shots of colonial architecture in the Historic Center of Macau contrasted with the neon lights of its many modern casinos. Click here to see our full selection of Macau stock footage clips or click here to see our selection of Chinese Cities stock footage.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Historic Macau | Ruins of St Paul's Church | Grand Lisboa Casino, Macau | Rio Casino, Macau |
Regional Chinese Cities Stock Footage
The China In A Box Chinese Cities stock footage category includes clips from a growing number of regional cities in China: from the Special Economic Zone and Open Cities of Dalian, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Xiamen, to the important cities of Ancient China such as Xi'an, Nanjing and Chengdu and the old trade cities along the Silk Road like Kashgar and Turpan. Our China Cities stock footage collection incorporates all aspects of Chinese city life illustrating both traditional and modern China.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Shenzhen | Dalian | Nanjing | Chengdu |
Special Economic Zone and Open Cities
In the 1980's, the People's Republic of China designated certain cities and areas as Special Economic Zones (SEZ) or Open Cities to enable easier trade and foreign investment. Our Chinese cities stock footage includes clips of the following original SEZ or Open Cities:
- DALIAN is the second biggest city in Liaoning Province in northeast China. Dalian Port has made Dalian an important trading center and its status as a Special Economic Zone has attracted significant foreign investment and hi-tech and software companies to the city. Our Dalian stock footage includes shots of the modern Dalian city skyline, city life, Dalian universities and business.
- GUANGZHOU is the capital city of Guangdong Province in southern China and the third most populated city in China. Guangzhou, previously known as Canton, has been an important trade city for centuries and is now a major manufacturing hub of Modern China. Our Guangzhou stock footage includes shots of skyscrapers and city skyline, city traffic and Chinese people relaxing in a Guangzhou park.
- SHENZHEN in Guangdong Province was the first Special Economic Zone in China and has grown from being a fishing village in the 1970's to being a major Chinese city with a population of over 10 million people. Shenzhen is one of China's foremost centers for finance and technology and is home to many foreign businesses in China. Our Shenzhen stock footage includes clips of the Shenzhen city skyline and skyscrapers, busy city traffic and daily city life.
- TIANJIN is a major industrial city and the sixth largest city in China with a population of over 11 million people. Our Tianjin stock footage includes clips of Tianjin Port, the biggest port in China.
- XIAMEN is a sub-provincial level city in Fujian Province in in southeast China. With a long history of trading with the west, Xiamen today has attracted foreign investment and businesses to the city. Our Xiamen stock footage includes shots of modern Xiamen city skyline, colonial architecture on Gulangyu Island, Xiamen Port, and hi-tech factories.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Tianjin | Guangzhou | Shenzhen | Xiamen |
Following the success of the original SEZ and Open Cities, since 1992 China has opened up a number of other cities to the west, including most provincial capitals. Our Chinese cities stock footage includes clips of these cities including the following:
- CHENGDU is the capital city of Sichuan Province in southwest China. As well as being a thriving modern city, Chengdu has a history going back more than 2,000 years. Our Chengdu stock footage includes scenes of both modern city life and ancient Chengdu and also clips of the Giant Pandas in the Chengdu Panda Breeding Center.
- DONGGUAN is an industrial city in the Pearl River Delta in Guangdong Province. Our Dongguan stock footage includes shots of city life, factories, construction and pollution.
- NANJING is the provincial capital of Jiangsu Province and one of the capitals of Ancient China. Our Nanjing stock footage includes shots of Nanjing's tourist attractions, city skyline and business.
- WUHAN is the capital of Hubei Province in central China. Our Wuhan stock footage includes shots of modern Wuhan city skyline, Wuhan Port on the Yangtze River and Wuhan University.
- XIAN, the capital of Shaanxi Province, is one of China's oldest cities. As the easternmost point of the ancient Silk Road, Xian has a long history as a trading city and is now a major business center, particularly attracting hi-tech and telecommunications industries. Our Xian stock footage includes clips of Ancient Xian, modern city life, the Muslim Quarter and business.
Click here to see a selection of our China cities stock footage clips.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Dongguan | Nanjing | Wuhan | Xian |
Ancient Chinese Cities Stock Footage
Our China cities stock footage includes clips from many of China's ancient cities, including Beijing, Chengdu, Nanjing and Xian (already highlighted in the sections above) and the following:
- LHASA is the capital city of the Tibet Autonomous Region and is one of the highest cities in the world. Our Lhasa stock footage includes clips of important Tibetan Buddhist sites such as the Potala Palace, Norbulingka and Jokhang Temple, as well as Tibetan people in traditional costume.
- LIJIANG is a prefecture-level city in Yunnan Province which is famous for its well-preserved old town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and population of Naxi ethnic minority people. Our Lijiang stock footage includes clips of old buildings and canals in Lijiang Old Town and Naxi culture and people in traditional costume.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Lijiang | Ancient Chengdu | Lhasa, Tibet | Ancient Xi'an |
Silk Road Cities Stock Footage
The Silk Road was an important ancient trade route from East to West. In China the Silk Road went from the northwest region of Xinjiang, through Gansu to the ancient city of Xi'an. Our Chinese cities stock footage includes clips of the following cities along the Silk Road:
- HETIAN, also known as Hotan or Khotan, is a small city famous for its traditional crafts in Xinjiang. Our Hetian stock footage includes clips of silk weaving and jade carving
- KASHGAR, an old oasis city in Xinjiang. Our Kashgar stock footage includes clips of the islamic architecture of Kashgar Old Town, Id Kah Mosque (the largest mosque in China) and muslim Uyghur ethnic minority people
- TURPAN, also known as Turfan or Turphan, an oasis city on the edge of the Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang. Our Turpan stock footage includes clips of the Emin Mosque with the highest minaret in China.
- URUMQI, the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Our Urumqi stock footage includes clips of the Urumqi Grand Bazaar and Mosque
Click here to see our selection of China cities stock footage, including shots from the Silk Road.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Kashgar | Hetian | Turpan | Urumqi |
For more information on the many locations and subjects in our China stock footage library, click on the links below:
and below are links to more detailed information on the stock footage clips for individual Chinese cities:
Major Cities & Special Administrative Regions
Regional Cities