How can a cultural tourism performance allow audiences to experience the rich history and local traditions of a region in just one hour? At the renowned Baifang Shisan Xiang in Linxia City, Gansu Province—often referred to as a “grand garden” of ethnic architectural art—elements of local history and culture, such as “Da Yu Controls the Flood,” “Princess Wencheng Enters Tibet,” and the unique craftsmanship of Linxia’s intangible cultural heritage, come to life through an immersive performance.
The recently launched immersive cultural tourism show, “Five Thousand Years of Blossoming Linxia,” has garnered significant attention, attracting over two million visitors in less than six months. By utilizing modern technologies such as lighting, projection, and sound, the show centers around the traditional commerce and culture of the ancient Hezhou region. Through a rich blend of drama, music, dance, and local traditions like the “Hua’er” cultural art form, it offers audiences an engaging experience of Linxia’s historical and cultural charm.
Historically known as Hezhou, Linxia has long played a pivotal role on the southern Silk Road and the ancient Tang-Tibet route, earning notable titles such as “Hometown of Colorful Pottery,” “Hometown of Hua’er,” and “Hometown of Peonies.” The Baifang Shisan Xiang, a famous ancient street established during the Tang Dynasty, showcases an impressive fusion of Hui brick carving, Han wood carving, and Tibetan painting.
In a recent interview, Ma Bingqian, the director of the Linxia Cultural and Tourism Bureau, shared insights into how to organically integrate Linxia’s historical narratives, ethnic culture, and unique resources into a distinctive artistic style. He emphasized the challenge of intertwining legendary stories, diverse local cultures, and natural resources while maintaining the narrative integrity and appeal of the performance.
To achieve this, the creative team delved into extensive research and chose to narrate the story from the perspective of an “old shopkeeper.” The performance features eight scenes from Baifang Shisan Xiang, incorporating nine segments that transport viewers through different historical epochs, balancing artistry with entertainment.
“The tremendous success of this performance has led to a significant increase in hotel occupancy rates across the city, reaching full capacity during major events,” Ma noted. Since its debut in May, the show has been met with overwhelming enthusiasm from audiences, resulting in a 30% increase in visitor numbers at the Baifang Shisan Xiang scenic area and a 40% boost in tourism consumption, both marking the highest records in history for the same period.
According to Ma, the show’s success is attributed not only to its immersive format, which effectively places audiences in a realistic historical setting, but also to its preservation of traditional cultural elements from Linxia and the northwest region, including clothing, performance styles, and stage design. This creates a profound sense of participation and experience for attendees.
Locally sourced actors and performing enthusiasts were actively involved in the show’s development, benefiting from extensive training on Linxia’s culture, customs, and history, which heightened the authenticity of the performances.
As “Five Thousand Years of Blossoming Linxia” continues to gain popularity, Ma emphasized how Linxia’s unique cultural artifacts—such as colorful pottery, gourd carving, and brick carving, along with Hua’er and peony culture—are making their way into homes through online and offline channels. He also highlighted the role of local delicacies like hand-grabbed lamb, Fazimen noodles, and Hezhou cover bowl tea in promoting the “Hezhou Taste, Linxia Cuisine” brand to a broader audience.
