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.