Tradition under the spotlight

"At first, it was intimidating," Duan says. "The dance steps are precise. Every gesture and tilt of the head has meaning. You can't just 'perform' it. You have to feel it, live it."

Her song, Eternal Lament, has been adapted to fit the rhythms of Nuo Opera, the drumbeats punctuating the emotional arc of the original opera. Duan herself has altered verses, slowed certain passages, and modified the choreography to echo the ceremonial gestures she has been practicing.

"It was a balance," she says. "I didn't want to lose the pop essence of my music, but I also couldn't dilute the ritual. The challenge was creating harmony, not compromise."

For Duan, that evolution meant late nights rehearsing under the guidance of Qin, adjusting movements while balancing the masks, testing rhythm, and reworking emotional beats. One of the most demanding sequences juxtaposed a ceremonial Nuo ritual with scenes of daily life, a visual metaphor for the persistence of tradition in modern society. "I had to show reverence for the ritual while expressing the ordinary human struggles beneath it," she says. "It took patience and countless repetitions."

The project's innovation has been supported by local officials. Yuan Hang, deputy director of the Cultural and Creative Industry Development Center in Xihu district, Hangzhou, has been involved since the show announced its Hangzhou leg.

"Our city has a wealth of intangible heritage — Nuo Opera, tea culture, calligraphy and local crafts," Yuan says. "But these traditions often remain behind glass. This show brings them into contemporary life. Young audiences don't just watch; they experience it and connect with it."

Yuan described how the government went beyond logistical support. Venues were arranged, artisans were paired with performers, and every step of the production received mentorship from heritage specialists.

"In China, most music reality shows follow the traditional logic and approach of large-scale variety shows: the stage looks great, the artists perform, and then leave," says Wu. "For the producers and production teams, these projects require substantial investment. Currently, the variety show market emphasizes budgeting. Our starting point is a small, long-term, and stable stage."

The director adds that this show is also integrated with Tencent's music chart, the TME Uni Chart, for promotional performances, adding an interactive, ranking-based element to the program.

In another episode, the theme is tea culture with Tamdrin, who is also known as Ding Zhen, from the Garze Tibetan autonomous prefecture in Sichuan province. He became a social media sensation in November 2020 after a photographer posted a 7-second video of his smiling face. Shortly after, he was appointed Sichuan's cultural tourism ambassador and has since participated in numerous variety shows.

According to the show's producer, Shang Hui, fans organized a truck, a transparent container, balloons, and photos, to show their support for Ding Zhen, which created a strong sense of interaction.

"This is what we aimed for," the producer notes. "A genuine fusion where idols bring energy and accessibility and masters bring authenticity. The audience doesn't just see a performance — they feel a culture that has survived for generations.

"The heritage is not dusty or irrelevant. It can be modern, emotional, and alive, and it can be part of everyday life, pop music, and youth culture," Shang adds.