Immersive theater village inspired by poverty alleviation story opens in NW China's Ningxia

Photo shows an aerial view of a new immersive cultural tourism landmark, "See Minning Drama Village," in Minning town, Yongning county, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (People's Daily Online/Liang Hongxin)

A new immersive cultural tourism landmark, named "See Minning Drama Village," officially opened on July 1 in Minning town, Yongning county, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, providing insights into the locality's poverty alleviation success.

Built around the real-life story of China's targeted poverty alleviation efforts, the project draws on three decades of cooperation between southeast China's Fujian Province and Ningxia. It transforms the well-known pairing assistance story in Minning town into a large-scale theatrical experience set within a reconstructed village environment.

The project traces key stages in the area's development, including life in the resource-scarce mountainous areas, poverty-alleviation resettlement, Fujian-Ningxia cooperation and modern transformation.

These themes are woven into a narrative spanning 36 plays and more than 600 minutes of immersive theatrical performances.

The experience is staged across four indoor theaters, four outdoor performance areas, eight site-specific performance zones and 20 interactive micro-performances.

"In the past, visitors came to Ningxia mainly for sightseeing. Today, they are more willing to spend time in learning about the story of the land," said Xiong Shengyue, an official from the Ningxia regional department of culture and tourism.

Over the past three decades, Fujian Province has invested 7.68 billion yuan ($1.13 billion) in aid for Ningxia, supporting more than 4,100 cooperative projects, according to Xiong. These efforts have helped millions of residents from the once-impoverished mountainous areas resettle and build stable lives in Minning town.

Photo shows a corner of a new immersive cultural tourism landmark, "See Minning Drama Village," in Minning town, Yongning county, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (People's Daily Online/Liang Hongxin)

A live performance takes place at a new immersive cultural tourism landmark, "See Minning Drama Village," in Minning town, Yongning county, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (People's Daily Online/Liang Hongxin)

A performance featuring a dual-timeline narrative unfolds on a revolving stage at a new immersive cultural tourism landmark, "See Minning Drama Village," in Minning town, Yongning county, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (People's Daily Online/Liang Hongxin)

A live performance takes place at a new immersive cultural tourism landmark, "See Minning Drama Village," in Minning town, Yongning county, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (People's Daily Online/Liang Hongxin)

Tourists enjoy a live performance at a new immersive cultural tourism landmark, "See Minning Drama Village," in Minning town, Yongning county, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (People's Daily Online/Liang Hongxin)