Wall of adventure and splendor

The 50-minute drama premiered in early June and has strung together stories of historical figures and anecdotes related to the Great Wall.

It exposes the audience to the initial severe hardships facing the Wall laborers, the formidable determination of the Qin Dynasty to unify the nation, and the faith and pride of the Han Dynasty in fortifying and expanding the Great Wall to consolidate its power, as well as the ensuing prosperity of the Tang Dynasty.

Visitors can get a big picture of how the Great Wall evolved into a world wonder and experience the whole gamut of historical figures' sentiments through the stage presentation that integrates music, dance, acrobatics and folk customs.

Interactive sessions have also been prepared for travelers to experience the hardships of constructing the Great Wall or engage in a poetry exchange session with an actor playing the role of Li Bai, a Tang Dynasty poet.

"We started to build the stage in December last year, reutilizing vacant land in the park," says Yue Junfang, a staff member with Xiadu Cultural Communications, which is in charge of the drama operations.

Approximately 180 crew members have engaged in regular performances, and the facility has received more than 600 visitors per day.

Yue expects the number to keep growing as summer vacation continues. More sessions will be offered daily.

"We have special buses that can take visitors from downtown all the way here," Yue says.