Juben sha (剧本杀, jùběn shā, literally "script killing") is China's home-grown murder-mystery role-playing game. You and five to seven friends each receive a printed booklet describing a character — a 1920s spy, a modern bride, a temple ghost — a set of hidden secrets, and a murder to solve. Over three to five hours, with costumes, props and a game master, you interrogate, bluff and deduce until the killer is revealed. Chengdu has hundreds of studios, and it is the default group-night activity for locals aged 18–35.
How it works
Players pick a "book" (本, běn) — scripts are rated by difficulty, genre (Republican-era spy, modern campus, wuxia, horror) and length. The room is dressed to match; the game master (DM, 主持人) guides timing and clues, and may play supporting characters. Many studios include costume rentals, props and a light meal. It is part theater, part board game, part group therapy, and it is intensely social — you will lie to your friends for four hours.
Where to play in Chengdu
- Studios cluster around Yulin, Chunxi Road, and University Town (大学城, near Southwest Jiaotong University).
- Look on Dianping (大众点评) for top-rated studios; search 剧本杀 and filter by reviews and "English-friendly" tags.
- Many studios have English-friendly "light" books aimed at foreigners, or will pair you with bilingual players; ask when booking.
- Premium "immersive" studios use 2–3 rooms, actors in costume and 4-hour run times — book a week ahead on weekends.
Practical Information
- Location: most studios in commercial buildings above Chunxi Road, Yulin and Jinjiang district streets; look for signs on the 2nd–5th floors of office buildings.
- Transport: metro to Chunxi Road (Lines 2/3), Yulin (Line 1/3) or University Town (Line 4). Studios are usually a 5-minute walk from the station.
- Hours: most studios run 13:00–24:00; evening sessions 19:00–23:30 are most popular. Afternoon sessions on weekends start at 13:00.
- Cost: ¥88–¥168 per person for 4–6 hours; includes script, room, costumes and snacks. English books and premium immersive rooms cost ¥168–¥268.
- Booking: reserve via Dianping or Meituan (美团) 1–3 days ahead; ask the studio to confirm English support and the book's difficulty level.
Tips for foreign guests
- Pick a "beginner" or "logic" (推理) book first; avoid horror if you dislike suspense or dark rooms with actors.
- You do not need fluent Chinese — bring one bilingual friend or ask the studio to match English-speaking players; many studios run English sessions on weekends.
- Eat before you play; snacks are light. Use the bathroom before the game starts — leaving mid-session breaks immersion.
- Useful Chinese: 有英文本吗? (Yǒu yīngwén běn ma? = Do you have English scripts?); 我们六个人 (Wǒmen liù gè rén = we are six people); 新手友好吗? (Xīnshǒu yǒuhǎo ma? = Is it beginner-friendly?).
Juben sha is the most fun you can have sitting down with strangers in Chengdu — a perfect rainy-day or late-night group activity, and a surprisingly good way to bond with colleagues or new friends over a shared lie. Most studios offer group discounts for bookings of six or more, and birthday groups can decorate the room for a small extra fee.
How to pay and get around
Nearly every ticket, tea-house table and bar bill in Chengdu is settled by mobile: scan the QR code on the table with WeChat or Alipay, enter the amount, and confirm. If you are a short-stay visitor, ask the hotel to help bind a card, or carry around 500 yuan in small notes for old stalls, temple fairs and late taxi shares. The metro covers most venues shown here, and Didi is cheap from 22:00 when the metro closes; agree on the drop-off point before getting in. Book weekends through Dianping or Damai two to three days ahead, and keep your passport handy because many tickets are checked against the ID used at purchase. A light umbrella and comfortable shoes solve ninety percent of unexpected afternoons, and most venues listed in this guide sit within a short taxi ride of the Jinjiang or Chunxi Road hotels that first-timers usually book.
