Since the Chinese New Year at the beginning of 2021, Henan TV has drawn the interest of Chinese netizens with its series of exquisite videos highlighting holidays such as the Spring Festival, Lantern Festival, and Dragon Boat Festival. Based on the success of the Banquet in Tang Dynasty Palace and Pray, Henan TV produced the Magical Trip on Qixi series to celebrate the Qixi Festival (also known as the Chinese Valentine’s Day) on August 13, which amazed audiences again.
The dance show “Guardian Warriors of Longmen” unveiled the curtains. Inspired by the cave art in Longmen Grottoes, a world cultural heritage site in Luoyang, this dance was filmed outside the ancient Longmen Grottoes as well as inside film studios. It not only shows Longmen music performers and flying apsaras but also recreates the image of Longmen guardian warriors. Using AR technology, the dance presents lively images of guardian warriors in the Longmen Grottoes. Based on the latest research from the grottoes, the show restores the original colors of Fengxian Temple, revealing the colorful culture of the grottoes to the world.
Apart from love and traditional folklore, patriotism is another focus of the program. In the “Battle Music for King Qin’s Army” and heroic stories about Hua Mulan, Qi Jiguang and Sego, instruments of pipa, erhu, sanxian (three-stringed traditional Chinese lute), Chinese drums and flute were employed to create an immersive and visible experience of vast battlefields. The theme song “Applause for Yourself” praises space exploration and the spirit of courage, resilience and cooperation.
The Magical Trip on Qixi series injects imagination and creativity into the “Chinese Festival” series of programs, and the culture-themed programs will make the traditional Chinese culture more visible in the international community.
Translated by 向望，张宇星，王琼