A virtually real performance

"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."