Theatrical extravaganza

Tian'anmen (Gate of Heavenly Peace) is an 80-minute theatrical performance capturing Beijing's spirit, which combines song, dance, poetry, drama, acrobatics, video and 3D digital art.

"We're trying to make it a new classic that captures the spirit of the city and emotions of its people," says the show's chief artistic director Chen Weiya.

Viewers wear 3D glasses to watch digital images that hover in the air and video on the LED screen that accompany live performances.

The background of the four-act performance is Tian'anmen's rostrum and square, and the Forbidden City - both landmarks of the Chinese capital.

Produced by the Information Office of the Beijing Municipal Government and the Beijing Performance & Arts Group, the performance involving at least 400 performers, is aimed at showcasing the development of Beijing's cityscapes, natural scenery and historical sites. It also documents historical events and figures such as novelist and thinker Lu Xun and Chairman Mao Zedong.

The show will undergo revisions based on audiences' and experts' feedback, Beijing Performance & Arts Group president Kang Wei says.

It has been making its test-run from Wednesday at the National Indoor Stadium in Beijing and will run on a regular basis at the National Indoor Stadium, from early next year.

7pm, May 16-18.National Indoor Stadium, Olympic Park, 9 Tianchen Donglu, Chaoyang district, Beijing. 010-8437-3058