The international tour of Ancient Sound of Dunhuang: Songs of a Golden Age will make its Shanghai premiere this July, bringing the music and dance of the Mogao Caves to the stage for a mesmerizing journey across time.

The Ancient Sound of Dunhuang series is the world's first immersive cave-style theatrical experience, with more than 2,700 performances to date. Ancient Sound of Dunhuang: Songs of a Golden Age draws its visual inspiration directly from the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang city, Gansu province. The story follows Bai Xin, a musician from Xiyu, or the Western Regions — an ancient Chinese term for the present-day Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and parts of Central Asia — as he seeks to blend Eastern and Western musical traditions. Audiences are guided on a musical journey spanning the elegance of the Han (206 BC-AD 220) and Tang (618-907) dynasties, the musical traditions of Xiyu, and the distinctive voice of Dunhuang.

In a seamless blend of antiquity and art, 10 celestial musicians appear in attire faithfully modeled after Dunhuang's famous grotto murals, creating the illusion of living frescoes. Their repertoire, drawn from 25 original scores, is played on 16 period instruments, from panpipes to lutes. Yet, the soundscape is far from a museum piece; by infusing Tang-style melodies with elements of rock, reggae, and electronic music, the group transforms ancient echoes into a fresh, avant-garde symphony.

The Shanghai premiere will run as a residency at Theatre Young in Yangpu district from July 9 to 26, with 22 performances in total. The production is expected to be one of the highlights of Shanghai's cultural calendar this summer, with nearly a thousand discounted tickets available. A series of Dunhuang-themed events will also take place, including street markets, Tang-style performances, Dunhuang dance workshops, and outreach programs bringing traditional arts to local campuses.

If you go

When: July 9-10, 7:30 pm; July 11-12, 2 pm & 7:30 pm

Where: Theatre Young Main Stage, No 1155 Kongjiang Road, Yangpu district

Duration: Approximately 70 minutes

Ticket prices: 180 yuan ($26.44) to 880 yuan

Source: Theatre Young