Peony Pavilion gets a unique touch at outdoor performance venue

There is a giant 360-degree water curtain, which rises to a height of 20 meters above the lake's surface during the show with multiple layers of laser images projected on it.

One of the highlights of the show is when the curtain rises and all the figures from the three realms jointly express their best wishes to the protagonists.

Wang Yugang, the chief designer of the stage and lighting, says: "Tang's work which uses dreams to reflect reality gives us much room for creativity when it comes to stage design."

Wang says that all of the large-scale stage buildings were constructed with regular wood or cement, so that the venue can be used as a tourist site during the day and a performance site during the night.

In a related development, 18 old houses dating back more than a century were carefully restored and skillfully incorporated into the performance.

A wall with a landscape painting showing the daily life of Ming, which is 156 meters long and nine meters high, was also created to give the audience a sense of immersion.

As the show progresses, the performers guide the audience who are touring the park at the same time.

The producer has designed two viewing routes and those taking the VIP route have a chance to appreciate the show from close quarters.

Zhang Xiaojun, a tourist from South China's Guangdong province, says: "The show was an eye opener as it allowed me to both enjoy authentic classic opera and appreciate a first-rate stage presentation."

Yang Lan, the president of Sun Media Group says: "Kunqu opera is a very elegant art and The Peony Pavilion is a classic play with a history of more than 400 years. So, how to make the audience understand the show and appreciate it was a big challenge for us.

"As a result, we put in great effort to achieve breakthroughs in re-creating the scenes and the atmosphere using technology."

The government of Fuzhou says that the show will become a core part of the local cultural tourism industry, which continues to dig into the legacy of Tang Xianzu and his work in a bid to raise the city's profile.