Play based on award-winning novel debuts next month in Beijing

A Lifelong Journey, a Chinese play based on Chinese writer Liang Xiaosheng's award-winning novel of the same title, will premiere at the Tianqiao Performing Arts Center in Beijing from May 28 to 30.

It tells the story of three siblings from a working-class family in northern China over the course of 50 years. With their personal ups and downs, the novel also reviews some of the country's development and changes, such as resumption of the gaokao(the national college entrance exam) in 1977 and reform and opening-up in 1978.

Now in his 70s, Liang, one of China's most famous authors, whose works have been translated into multiple languages, including English and French, said the novel took him about eight years to finish. With 1.15 million words, the story portrays about 100 characters from all walks of life.

In 2019, the novel won the Mao Dun Literature Prize --one of China's most revered honors for literary works.

The play will be directed by Yang Jiayin of the Beijing People's Art Theatre and will feature actors Qiao Zhenyu, Du Ruoxi and Guo Jiaming.

After the shows in Beijing, the play will go on a national tour.