Living the dream

However, a moment of inspiration struck, and she realized that she could approach the subject from the readers' perspective.

"Readers from different generations would have their own unique understandings while reading this book. Over the course of 270 years since its release, countless readers have formed connections with this literary treasure."

Consequently, within the park, various scenarios have been built up in which the stories of readers from different time periods are staged.

Those scenarios, for instance, reproduce a dormitory area of a steel mill in Panzhihua, Sichuan province, in 1965; a grocery store in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, in 1974; a shabby residential building in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, in 1999; and siheyuan (courtyard dwellings) in Beijing in 2018.

"In certain scenario spaces, there are currently no actors present," says Wang.

"But we use recordings and props, such as vintage items, to present the stories that unfold within them. I believe these scenario spaces are an extension of the theatrical experience for visitors."

She hopes that as visitors tour the park, they will encounter different stories that might resonate with them.

Some of the performances require interactivity, providing the audience with an immersive experience.