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| Where Was Sunshine through the Rain Filmed? All 2026 CDrama Filming Locations Revealed |
The 2026 Chinese romance series Sunshine through the Rain was filmed across several locations in China and Germany, bringing together university campuses, modern research facilities, atmospheric city streets and historic European architecture. Guangzhou and Zhuhai provided the main domestic settings, while Berlin became an important backdrop for the production's overseas scenes. With its university rivalries, scientific research and complicated relationships, the series makes particularly good use of its surroundings, turning ordinary campuses and city landscapes into memorable parts of the viewing experience.
The production began on 9 December 2025, following its official booting ceremony, with the first phase concentrating on locations across southern China. After approximately 90 days of domestic filming, the team completed this stage on 26 February 2026 before moving overseas for the remaining scenes.
The international filming phase eventually concluded on 27 April 2026, bringing the five-month production schedule to an end. Although the production used several identifiable destinations, not every individual filming address was publicly disclosed. Keeping certain locations private during filming also helps prevent unwanted interruptions from overenthusiastic fans who might otherwise turn a working set into an unexpected sightseeing attraction.
One of the most important filming settings was Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, which helped establish the academic atmosphere of the fictional Qingyi University. Its university architecture, landscaped grounds and tree-lined pedestrian areas provide the kind of environment expected from a demanding institution where students spend most of their time studying, competing and occasionally questioning their life choices.
The campus surroundings also help establish the daily routines of Zheng Yu and Chen Yanzhou, whose academic rivalry gradually becomes the foundation of their relationship. The university's distinctive combination of traditional architectural elements and modern facilities makes it a fitting setting for a contemporary youth drama. Visitors interested in exploring the university's surroundings can also discover the historic Sun Yat-sen University South Campus, which offers an interesting glimpse into Guangzhou's academic heritage. Access to individual university buildings and restricted areas depends on campus regulations.
Another important filming area was Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, located in Panyu District. This extensive university district provided additional campus environments for the fictional Qingyi University, particularly its modern academic buildings, spacious walking routes and institutional surroundings. The area is home to several major educational institutions, making it a natural choice for a series centred on ambitious students and competitive academic life.
Its combination of university facilities, student accommodation and public spaces also gives the drama a convincing sense of everyday campus living. Rather than relying entirely on studio-built environments, the production could use the district's existing architecture to create a more grounded university atmosphere. The surrounding Lingnan Impression Park adds another interesting destination to the area, offering traditional southern Chinese architecture and cultural attractions for visitors who want to explore more of Panyu during their trip.
Zhuhai Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone provided another significant setting for Sunshine through the Rain. The production used the area's modern technology and research-oriented environments to establish the scientific world surrounding the main characters. The fictional School of Life Sciences requires laboratories, specialist equipment and research facilities, making Zhuhai's industrial and technological landscape particularly suitable for these scenes.
The clean architectural designs, contemporary buildings and corporate surroundings help create the impression of an advanced research environment where academic success carries considerable importance. These locations also complement the drama's focus on biological research competitions and the scholarship pursued by Zheng Yu. For visitors interested in Zhuhai's modern architecture, the Zhuhai International Convention and Exhibition Center offers another impressive example of the city's contemporary development, while the waterfront surroundings provide a completely different atmosphere from the series' laboratory-heavy settings.
The production also made use of Guangzhou's urban neighbourhoods, particularly residential streets and older districts that help establish Zheng Yu's everyday circumstances. These locations are important because the drama does not focus exclusively on university life. Zheng Yu has to balance her academic responsibilities with part-time employment and financial pressures at home, so the surrounding residential environment plays an important role in showing the contrast between her private struggles and the competitive world of higher education.
Older apartment buildings, narrow streets and everyday neighbourhood businesses provide a believable backdrop for these moments. The production's visual approach also makes good use of Guangzhou's humid southern climate, particularly during its recurring rainy sequences. Visitors exploring the city can experience another side of its urban character at Yongqing Fang, a revitalised historic neighbourhood known for its traditional architecture, narrow lanes and distinctive local atmosphere.
Another recognisable part of Guangzhou's landscape is the Pearl River waterfront, which provides an atmospheric setting for the series' outdoor sequences. The riverfront walkways are particularly suitable for scenes involving characters walking through the city, reflecting on personal problems or having conversations that would probably be considerably easier if everyone simply communicated honestly. The combination of riverside views, modern buildings and the city's changing weather contributes to the drama's visual identity.
These outdoor environments also reinforce the contrast between the characters' demanding academic routines and the quieter moments they share away from the university. One of the city's most recognisable destinations, Huacheng Square, offers expansive pedestrian areas and impressive views of Guangzhou's modern skyline. It is an attractive place to explore the city's contemporary architecture and urban landscape, particularly for visitors who enjoy the visual contrast between older residential districts and newer commercial developments.
The overseas production phase brought the cast and crew to Berlin, Germany, where the series expanded its visual setting beyond southern China. Berlin plays an important role in the later part of the story, particularly through the international opportunities and personal transitions experienced by the main characters. Its historic architecture, public squares and established university environment provide a noticeable contrast to the contemporary Chinese university settings shown earlier.
The change in scenery also gives the production an opportunity to explore a different atmosphere without abandoning its central themes of ambition, relationships and personal growth. Berlin's architectural variety makes it an especially effective destination for a drama that moves between academic environments and more personal moments. For visitors interested in the city's history and architecture, Gendarmenmarkt is one of its most recognisable public squares, surrounded by impressive historic buildings that showcase the capital's distinctive European character.
Humboldt University of Berlin was another important location associated with the overseas filming phase. Its historic academic architecture provides a convincing setting for the international university and research environment featured in the drama. Founded in 1810, the institution has a long academic history and is one of Berlin's best-known universities. Its central location and distinctive architectural surroundings make it particularly suitable for scenes that require an established European university atmosphere.
The contrast with the modern campuses in Guangzhou and Zhuhai also helps distinguish the different stages of the characters' academic journeys. Visitors exploring the university area can also discover Bebelplatz, a historic public square directly associated with Berlin's academic and cultural landscape. Its surrounding architecture makes it an interesting stop for anyone planning to explore the city's central university district.
The series also draws on Berlin's city-centre public spaces and surrounding streets for its international sequences. These urban environments help establish the geographical distance between the main characters while introducing a different architectural identity from the Chinese locations. Berlin's mixture of historic buildings, broad streets and contemporary city life provides plenty of visual variety, making it a useful setting for scenes involving overseas opportunities and changes in personal circumstances.
The city also offers a different atmosphere from Guangzhou's humid, rain-heavy environment, giving the drama a noticeable visual transition as the story develops. Brandenburg Gate is another major Berlin landmark worth including in a travel itinerary. Although its historical significance is considerably greater than its role as a photographic backdrop, it remains one of the city's most recognisable architectural attractions and an excellent starting point for exploring central Berlin.
Not every scene in Sunshine through the Rain was filmed in an actual university or residential building. The production also relied on custom-built studio soundstages to create specialised interior environments. These included biological research laboratories, sterilisation facilities, hospital wards and private residential interiors. Building these sets indoors gave director Mao De Shu greater control over lighting, camera positioning and the artificial rain effects required for some of the series' signature scenes.
It also allowed the production team to recreate complicated scientific environments without interfering with functioning research facilities. The laboratory scenes are particularly important because they form the setting for many of Zheng Yu and Chen Yanzhou's interactions. Unfortunately, these constructed sets are not conventional tourist destinations, so fans hoping to recreate every scene will have to settle for the real-world locations rather than expecting to find a complete fictional university waiting for them.
In my opinion, Sunshine through the Rain makes particularly effective use of its filming locations because the different environments contribute something meaningful to the overall atmosphere. Guangzhou gives the series a convincing university setting, while Zhuhai adds a modern research-oriented backdrop that suits its academic storyline. Berlin then introduces a refreshing visual change, allowing the production to move beyond familiar Chinese city landscapes. What makes the locations interesting is not simply their appearance but how they complement the characters' circumstances.
The university surroundings reflect their ambitions, the residential streets establish the pressures of everyday life, and the international settings suggest new opportunities and changing priorities. The recurring rain-soaked scenery is another nice touch, even if the characters seem to have an unusually complicated relationship with umbrellas. It is also refreshing to see a romance drama make its surroundings feel like an essential part of the experience rather than just attractive scenery placed behind the actors.
Overall, Sunshine through the Rain offers an interesting collection of filming destinations across Guangzhou, Zhuhai and Berlin, combining Chinese university environments with the distinctive architecture of the German capital. Some locations are accessible to visitors, while university buildings, working research facilities and private production sets may have their own access restrictions.
It is worth checking local visitor arrangements before planning a trip, particularly if you intend to visit an active university campus. As more production-location information becomes available, Tonboriday.com will update this article with additional details. Would you consider visiting Guangzhou, Zhuhai or Berlin to experience the real-world atmosphere behind the series? Which location caught your attention the most? Share your thoughts and let us know which destination deserves a place on your travel bucket list!