A virtually real performance

Imagine a theatrical play where steep cliffs act as a canvas for mesmerizing animations, stages nestled along the riverbank dazzle with twinkling lights, and the audience sits on a drifting boat. As the vessel glides leisurely down the river, a mythical story unfolds amid the stunning scenery.

At Hanxianyan, a renowned tourist attraction in Huichang county, Ganzhou city, Jiangxi province, such an immersive experience is not just a figment of the imagination. There, audiences can witness the captivating tale of Han Zhongli, a revered figure in Chinese mythology and one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism, brought to life through shimmering lights reflected both on the shore and in the water.

Han was said to have resided in the mountainous area of Hanxianyan. And the play, named Wu Dao (roughly translated as "the realization of the way"), narrates a tale of Han, who, with the aid of seven other immortals, triumphs over an evil dragon and transforms it into a mortal being. This newly formed human is later subjected to a host of life's trials, which are related to wealth, love, desire and death. The transformed creature, named Long An, manages to endure the challenges, cultivating a profound inner strength and achieving enlightenment.

Following Long's journey, the audience is drawn into a world of mysticism and self-discovery.

"The script's creation was based on the profound culture of Taoism. We hope that it will not only be an audiovisual feast that entertains people, but will also inspire them to reflect on their lives," says Qu Guojun, chief director of the show.

As an established lighting designer, Qu has worked on many festival galas and large-scale cultural-tourism performances.

"Many city dwellers might find themselves at a loss in everyday life. I hope the show's story, and its philosophical outlook, can offer them solace," he adds.

This is the first production he has worked on that involves so much integration of lighting designs and theatrical performances with real landscapes, which is a "breakthrough" for him.

"Unlike a conventional stage play, where the audience members watch the performance from fixed seats, in this production, the viewers are in motion. As they float along a 7.5-kilometer waterway on a boat, the production switches between 15 theatrical scenes," he says.

Over 3,800 special-effect lighting devices and pieces of high-tech audiovisual equipment were installed along the river in Hanxianyan to deliver the production's visuals.

The scenic area features sheer cliffs and dense plant cover. To preserve the local ecology, the show's production unit had to transport the devices manually and conduct high-altitude installation.

"Scaling steep slopes severely slowed down the work," Qu recalls.

As the signal is weaker in mountainous area, 5G technology has been used to empower the production's control system. Additionally, extended reality technologies are utilized to enhance realism by projecting spectacular images onto the towering cliffs.

Following repeated rehearsals and equipment tests, the night show made its successful debut in January 2022, quickly becoming yet another highlight in Huichang county's tourism development.

"For me, watching the show is like being transported to a new world," says Yang Xiaoyu, a visitor from Nanchang, capital of Jiangxi province. "The well-crafted plot with its climax, fitting background music, and thought-provoking narration captivated my attention throughout the entire show."

She says it's a refreshing experience to sit on a moving boat and see 3D images projected on the cliffs without wearing specialized glasses.

"Such a night show has the potential to encourage tourists to stay overnight, which can increase their spending on local accommodation, food and transportation, ultimately promoting local economic growth," says Song Fengsheng, manager of a local culture and tourism development company that operates the Hanxianyan scenic spot.

He notes that, despite being affected by COVID-19, they still managed to perform the show around 500 times last year.

The cast and crew, including understudies, consists of several hundred locals, primarily comprising local theater performers, dance enthusiasts, nearby villagers, and music teachers.

"That also boosts local employment," says Song.

To give tourists a more immersive experience while exploring the mythology of the Eight Immortals of Taoism at the scenic spot, tour guides, shuttle bus drivers, street vendors and other scenic area service personnel are required to dress in costumes and assume specific roles, Song adds.

So far this year, the scenic area has received more than 130,000 tourists, mainly from Jiangxi, Guangdong and Fujian provinces.

China has been promoting digital cultural consumption through various technologies in recent years. Therefore, efforts have been made to create innovative, immersive and interactive cultural consumption products using cutting-edge means.

Qu believes that immersion is an emerging trend for tourism and cultural performances and theatrical plays. "As lighting designers, we should maintain a keen sensitivity to emerging technologies," he adds.

He plans to use augmented reality glasses to further blur the lines between virtual objects and the physical environment for audiences of Wu Dao in the future.

To bolster its digital tourism initiatives, Huichang county has been vitalizing its existing tourist attractions by leveraging innovative technologies.

Huichang county, which is well-known as one of the old revolutionary strongholds, made a great contribution to the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

A range of advanced systems, such as virtual hosts, digital paintings and holographic imagery, have been deployed across the county's historical sites where the Red Army was once based. These applications serve to transport visitors back to a bygone era, providing a glimpse into the revolutionary spirit that once thrived in the area.