Living the dream

In the realm of Chinese literature, Qing Dynasty (1368-1644) novel A Dream of Red Mansions, which includes various aspects of knowledge about, and deeply reflects, the social life and customs of ancient China, holds a prestigious position. Its artistic allure has withstood the test of time, inspiring a multitude of adaptations in film, television and theater.

To bring the famous story to life for even more people, a theatrical park themed on the literary masterpiece opened on July 23, taking a more avant-garde approach to exploring the inner world of the novel's characters and continuing the novel's narrative from the perspective of readers across different eras.

The park, called Unique Dream of Red Mansion, spans a vast area in Langfang, Hebei province, and boasts four large and eight small indoor theaters, as well as 108 scenario spaces and outdoor theaters.

All the shows presented in the park are under the direction of Wang Chaoge, a seasoned veteran in the field, renowned for her creation of numerous influential scenario performances and theatrical works that have significantly boosted the tourism development of their respective locations.

When initially invited to design and direct a theatrical production centered around A Dream of Red Mansions, Wang declined.

"I believed the depth and magnitude of this masterpiece were beyond my ability to handle," she recalls.

However, a moment of inspiration struck, and she realized that she could approach the subject from the readers' perspective.

"Readers from different generations would have their own unique understandings while reading this book. Over the course of 270 years since its release, countless readers have formed connections with this literary treasure."

Consequently, within the park, various scenarios have been built up in which the stories of readers from different time periods are staged.

Those scenarios, for instance, reproduce a dormitory area of a steel mill in Panzhihua, Sichuan province, in 1965; a grocery store in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, in 1974; a shabby residential building in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, in 1999; and siheyuan (courtyard dwellings) in Beijing in 2018.

"In certain scenario spaces, there are currently no actors present," says Wang.

"But we use recordings and props, such as vintage items, to present the stories that unfold within them. I believe these scenario spaces are an extension of the theatrical experience for visitors."

She hopes that as visitors tour the park, they will encounter different stories that might resonate with them.

Some of the performances require interactivity, providing the audience with an immersive experience.

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.

Wang says that she found that, nowadays, young people appreciate artistic works with a more open mind, and they welcome a show that embraces the aesthetic and philosophical essence of A Dream of Red Mansions.

"It would be great if my plays can inspire more audience members to take the time to earnestly read the original masterpiece," she says.

Wu Yingying, 27, a visitor from Beijing, says that after watching the plays, she felt a strong desire to reread the book.

"Buildings there are distinctive, evoking a sense of an ever-changing scene as I explore. As a reader, I am delighted to have uncovered various cultural elements from the book during my visit, and I can truly feel the designers' creative brilliance shining through," says Wu.

As part of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), the country has set a goal to create more than 100 cultural projects incorporating immersive experiences. These projects will be encouraged to integrate with urban complexes, public spaces and tourist attractions.

The opening of the theatrical park in Langfang is expected to boost tourism development in the city.

Li Xiaofei, president of Ennova Holding Co Ltd, a Langfang-based cultural product and service provider responsible for building the park, explains why the company chose to locate the cultural project in Langfang.

"Having lived in Langfang for a long time, I must say, one of the city's standout features is its inclusiveness. The novel A Dream of Red Mansions is brimming with imagination and creativity. I believe bringing this cultural project to life in such an open and accepting place like Langfang perfectly fits the city's vibe," she says.

She also stresses the advantageous location of Langfang, being close to Beijing, and expressed her confidence in the park's potential in fostering tourism growth in northern China in the future.

She adds that the company will make a continuous effort to enrich the cultural content within the park. For example, they plan to introduce intangible cultural heritage elements to the space and use it as a platform to incubate young theatrical talent.

"We want to build it into a theme park that aligns with Chinese aesthetics and showcases the splendor of traditional Chinese culture," she says.