<P> The Karate Kid is a 2010 family martial arts drama film directed by Harald Zwart . It stars Jaden Smith, Taraji P. Henson and Jackie Chan in lead roles, and it was produced by Jerry Weintraub, James Lassiter, Ken Stovitz and Jaden's parents Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith . The screenplay by Christopher Murphey was from the story written by Robert Mark Kamen for the original The Karate Kid . Unlike the original, this remake is set in China, and features Kung Fu instead of Okinawan Karate . The film's music was composed by James Horner . It is an international co-production between China, Hong Kong, and the United States . </P> <P> Principal photography took place in Beijing, China, and filming began in July 2009 and ended on October 16, 2009 . The Karate Kid was released theatrically worldwide on June 11, 2010 by Sony Pictures . The Karate Kid received mixed reviews and it earned $359.1 million on a $40 million budget . The plot concerns 12 - year - old Dre (Smith) from Detroit, Michigan who moves to Beijing, China with his mother (Taraji P. Henson) and runs afoul of the neighborhood bully (Zhenwei Wang). He makes an unlikely ally in the form of an aging maintenance man, Mr. Han (Chan), a kung fu master who teaches him the secrets of self - defense . </P> <P> Dre Parker and his mother Sherry Parker move from Detroit to Beijing after Sherry gets a job transfer at her car factory . After a day in a park, Dre develops a crush on a young violinist, Meiying, who reciprocates his attention, but another boy Cheng, a rebellious kung fu prodigy whose family is close to Meiying's, attempts to keep them apart by violently attacking Dre, and later bullies him at school . During an attack, the maintenance man, Mr. Han comes to Dre's aid, and when Cheng and his friends try to interfere, Han defeats each of them in close combat, revealing himself as a kung fu master . </P> <P> After Han mends Dre's injuries using fire cupping, Dre asks if Mr. Han could teach him kung fu . Han refuses, but meets Cheng's teacher, Master Li, to make peace . Li, who teaches his students to show no mercy to their enemies, challenges Dre to a fight with Cheng . Han instead proposes that Dre compete against Li's students at an open martial arts tournament, and also requests the students leave Dre alone to train in time for the tournament . Li accepts the offer, but warns Han that if Dre does not show up during the tournament, he will personally bring pain to Han and Dre . </P>

Where does the new karate kid take place