Zhang's Turandot fervor is a riddle for critics

Acclaimed director Zhang Yimou yesterday announced another grand project - but it is not a movie.

Instead, the creative team behind the 2008 Olympic Games' opening ceremony in Beijing returned to the Bird's Nest to release details of another spectacular show: A brand-new production of Turandot on Oct 6 and 7 at the iconic Olympic stadium.

Though not an opera director, Zhang has almost become a specialist on Turandot, if the number of productions is any guide. His debut dates back to 1997 in Florence, and he followed it a year later with a memorable show in the Forbidden City. In the following years, he has taken the show to South Korea, France, Germany and Spain.