Director Wang Zhi'ou shares insights on the creation of the water show. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

A major cultural tourism project in Shaoxing, East China's Zhejiang province is set to open on Nov 13, featuring a large-scale water performance.

The show, created to commemorate the 900th anniversary of Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) poet Lu You's birth, will premiere on the same day.

The show serves as a journey of dialogue between the audience and the poet, according to director Wang Zhi'ou.

Unlike traditional stage setups, the show adopts an upgraded immersive format, in which the audience walks through the entire scenic area as the story unfolds.

The route starts near a museum and passes by the water stage. As visitors continue along the path, Lu You's life is portrayed through the four symbolic seasons.

The production team has integrated Lu You's poetry and life story with cutting-edge visual technology. At the performance's climax, Lu You's lifelong patriotic aspirations — his yearning for national unity — are transformed into a dazzling celestial display, where over 9,000 poems illuminate the night sky as shimmering stars.

Rendering of the under-construction Lu You's Hometown scenic area. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]