As cultural tourism evolves, immersive performances are emerging as a powerful trend, reshaping how visitors engage with history and tradition. Instead of passively observing, audiences now become active participants, experiencing local culture through dynamic, interactive storytelling. One of the most striking examples of this transformation is Dream Back to the West Tower (梦回西楼), a large-scale live performance staged at Jinan Sunac Resort in Shandong Province.
Blending local heritage with cutting-edge stage technology, the production offers audiences a spectacular journey into the Song Dynasty—bringing to life the poetry, romance, and patriotism of two of China’s most celebrated cultural figures: Li Qingzhao and Xin Qiji.
A Time-Traveling Cultural Experience
When night falls, Jinan Sunac Resort comes alive with eager crowds gathering for the show. As the lights dim, Song-era landscapes and bustling markets unfold on massive water-screen projections. Lasers streak across the night sky like meteors, merging with live actors and dancers on stage to create a dreamlike environment.
The performance follows the intertwined stories of Li Qingzhao—the graceful, witty poet often hailed as the greatest female writer of the Song Dynasty—and Xin Qiji, the patriotic general-poet whose life was marked by battles, loyalty, and unfulfilled ambitions.
Audiences witness Li Qingzhao’s youthful innocence, her tender love story with Zhao Mingcheng, and her later struggles through loss and turmoil. In parallel, Xin Qiji’s story unfolds from his bold youthful ambitions to his lifelong frustration at not being able to restore his country. Their poetry—known collectively as the legacy of the “Two Ans” (二安)—serves as the thread connecting each chapter, turning verses once confined to textbooks into living, emotionally charged experiences.
Tradition Meets Technology
The production’s impact comes not only from its storytelling, but also from its masterful integration of technology with tradition.
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Molten Iron Fireworks (打铁花): At one climactic moment, performers hurl molten iron into the night sky, exploding into golden sparks like a river of stars. Beyond visual spectacle, the ritual connects deeply with Jinan’s folk traditions, where such displays were once performed to pray for blessings and prosperity.
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Water-Screen Projection: Scenes of Jinan’s famed springs and Song-era streetscapes are projected onto mist, making the audience feel as if they are standing within the city itself. Iconic poetic imagery, such as “rippling waters in the sunlight” and “a spring’s quiet trickle,” comes vividly to life.
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Lighting and Stagecraft: With 480 intelligent lighting units, massive LED screens, rising platforms, and aerial wire work, the performance shifts seamlessly from serene moonlit courtyards to fiery battlefields. Every technical detail serves the narrative, amplifying the cultural and emotional resonance of the story.
Cultural Resonance and Global Appeal
More than just a performance, Dream Back to the West Tower has become a vehicle for cultural communication. Many visitors report leaving with a deeper understanding of Jinan’s cultural roots and a newfound appreciation for Song poetry.
For audiences familiar with Li Qingzhao and Xin Qiji only through textbooks, the show brings their humanity to life—transforming words on a page into lived experiences. Tourists from outside Jinan are drawn not only to the performance itself, but also to the city’s landmarks and historical sites, creating a cultural tourism ripple effect.
A Model for Cultural Tourism Innovation
By blending local culture, modern technology, and immersive storytelling, Jinan Sunac’s Dream Back to the West Tower sets a benchmark for cultural tourism development in China. It transforms heritage into a living, shareable experience—one that resonates with contemporary audiences while preserving the soul of tradition.
As immersive cultural performances gain momentum worldwide, productions like Dream Back to the West Tower show how deeply rooted local heritage can find new life on the modern stage. For Jinan, it is not only an artistic triumph but also a powerful ambassador of the city’s cultural identity.