Musical puts Chang'an at center stage

One of the novel's captivating aspects is its depiction of the capital, a symbol of the Tang Dynasty's prosperity and opulence. Enclosed by city walls, Chang'an adopted a meticulous urban design, divided neatly into 108 blocks with designated functions.

In the stage design, the crew strives to present the city's outline. While it is impossible to fully demonstrate its grandeur, the stage floor adopts a checkerboard design to convey the concept, with three movable watchtowers indicating different locations.

The opening song Chang'an and the first song of Act II Zhengyue Shiwu (referring to the date of Lantern Festival) are designed to give the audience an immediate impression of the city.

"The audience feels at the beginning Chang'an's lively prosperity, where people live in peace and joy despite the story's lurking crisis. The start of Act II presents a lighting ceremony for Lantern Festival, incorporating dance, folk music, acrobatics and martial arts," Hu says.

"We hope to immerse the audience in a cultural atmosphere, with various artistic techniques and rich colors that portray traditional aesthetics."