The centrepiece of the Theater Festival in Wuzhen is an exquisite new performance space. The state-of-the-art theatre is unusual, in that it's surrounded by the water for which the town is famous.

Through a bridged archway, this new architectural marvel appears, seeming to float on the water which has run through this city for thousands of years. The design of the theatre incorporates both the old and the new.

With echoes of a church from the Middle Ages, the building is a perfect match for the town’s serene atmosphere. Its shape resembles a twin lotus on one stalk, which reflects Wuzhen’s delicate watertown scenery.

The state-of-the-art theatre is unusual, in that it's surrounded by the water for which the town is famous.

"A theater has to be very big, considering the stage height and the seats inside. I used materials with colors and appearance that match the houses here. For me, Wuzhen is always like a dreamland, and a theatre is a place where humans create dreams. So it ’s like a dream within a dream." said Yao Renxi, designer.