Water show brings Song Dynasty poet back to life in Shaoxing

Tracing Lu You is performed at Lu You Hometown Scenic Area in Yuecheng district, Shaoxing. [Photo provided by Gan Jing to Tide News]

This Spring Festival, the Lu You Hometown Scenic Area in Yuecheng district, Shaoxing, launched a large-scale immersive water show titled Tracing Lu You. Lu You was a renowned poet from the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). Performed nightly on a water platform, the show brings audiences face to face with the poet from nine centuries ago.

Four actors portray Lu You at different stages of his life. Song Hao portrays the young Lu You, while Lu Heng embodies the poet in his later years.

The production held nationwide auditions last October, with Song and Lu emerging from a pool of over 800 candidates. "It was Lu You who drew me to Shaoxing," said Song. To better embody the role, he immersed himself in historical materials, wrote a character biography, and carefully studied the psychology behind every line.

Performed entirely on a water stage, the show tests not only the actors' dramatic chops but also their physical endurance. After changing into waterproof gear, the two "Lu Yous" traded smiles before ascending the stage.

This Chinese New Year, the performers serve as bridges, bringing Lu You's patriotic spirit to life amid the festive atmosphere of his hometown. "They are actors portraying Lu You, but they are also young people who understand Shaoxing and carry forward Lu You's legacy," said a representative of Lu You Hometown Scenic Area. "Ensuring Lu You's story lives on in his homeland — that is our responsibility and mission."