Living the dream

One such play is titled The No 35 High School. The theater space for this play is designed to resemble a high school from 1987, where the story revolves around a group of students who are ardent fans of A Dream of Red Mansions.

Upon entering the theater, the audience will be guided to different classrooms to take on the roles of students, engaging with the actors and helping advance the storyline.

Another highlight of the park is its architectural design style.

The walkways appearing on the exterior facades, a sky-facing open gate, and the misty Chinese-style garden all contribute to the park's sense of fantasy.

"We have distilled the aesthetic concept of traditional Chinese architecture and used it in the design," she says.

Zhang Qingshan, Party secretary of the Chinese National Academy of Arts and also an expert in academic studies of A Dream of Red Mansions, says that the theatrical park beautifully captures the dreamlike and illusory essence of the novel. "Visitors, whether old or young, can enjoy a fresh and unique experience within it," he says. "With its distinct artistic expression, the park opens the gates for passionate readers of the book, allowing them to step into the fantasy world of the book."

During the internal testing phase, Wang herself communicated with some young visitors to get their feedback on the show.