Wenchangli in Fuzhou, Jiangxi: Relive Story of The Peony Pavilion with Sound, Light, and Electricity

This is the hometown of Tang Xianzu, the "Saint of Chinese Opera," and also the most bustling commercial district in the old city area of Linchuan District, Fuzhou, Jiangxi Province. After renovation, Wenchangli has transformed into a street of traditional architecture, becoming a calling card for Fuzhou's history and culture. The live performance "Seeking Dreams in The Peony Pavilion," based on the classic play "The Peony Pavilion" from Linchuan's Four Dreams, fantastical unfolds here. With the modern high-tech sound, light, and stage technology, the ethereal love story of Du Liniang and Liu Mengmei unfolds above the water features and ancient buildings, brimming with deep emotions and authenticity.

A scene from the live performance "Seeking Dreams in The Peony Pavilion" [Photo by Ding Huan]

Before the renovation, Wenchangli was a run-down area with outdated municipal facilities. Starting in 2015, Fuzhou City has made it a top priority project to improve residents' lives and showcase the city's characteristics. State Grid Fuzhou Electric Power Supply Branch invested over 29.4 million yuan in constructing two new 10kV power lines with a total length of 16.59 kilometers and installed 20 box-type distribution transformers with a total capacity of 11.3MVA. They comprehensively completed the installation and transformation of power supply facilities in the street, assisting in the installation of 20 electric vehicle charging piles in the underground parking lot, providing a reliable power supply for the illumination of the ancient street.

A scene from the live performance "Seeking Dreams in The Peony Pavilion" [Photo by Ding Huan]

Now, in Wenchangli, one can see smooth stone pavements, towering brown walls with blue tiles, and exquisite flying eaves and upturned corners, presenting a magnificent light show during the live performances. Tourists from all over the place flock here, resulting in a 24% increase in electricity demand. Since the beginning of this year, the scenic area has received nearly 3 million visitors.

Behind the scenes of tourists reliving a thousand-year-old story, local power supply staff delve into Wenchangli, conducting inspections and testing equipment, ensuring electricity safety, and achieving flawless operation for the street's landscape lights and the "Seeking Dreams in The Peony Pavilion" live performance. [Text by Ding Huan and Wu Shan]