Li Bai of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) was one of the greatest poets in Chinese history, shaping a golden age of Chinese poetry. His life and works have been widely adapted into movies, TV shows and theater productions.

Making its debut in September 2023, the Chinese musical "Qiang Jin Jiu," or "Invitation to Wine," completed a new round of performances in Beijing in early August.

The musical's title originates from Li Bai's poem "Qiang Jin Jiu," one his most famous works, which is known for its thoughts on life, indulgence and the fleeting nature of human existence.

The musical brings the poet's legendary life to the stage with various distinctive elements of traditional Chinese culture, including Chinese classical dance, martial arts, traditional Chinese opera, the guqin (a classical Chinese musical instrument) and sword dance.

"We created the show based on cultural confidence, and aimed at showcasing the extensive and profound traditional Chinese culture," Yu Yueyue, executive producer of "Invitation to Wine," told CGTN.

Yu, who is also the leading actress in the musical, said the production team made numerous breakthroughs and experimented extensively with character portrayals, musical elements and the overall dramatic structure.

"I believe that both traditional and contemporary cultures require expressions that resonate with the new era," she said.

"If we aim to create something original in Chinese culture, it is essential to incorporate elements of China's classical culture, classical art and traditional art forms," Zheng Yunlong, the actor portraying Li Bai and the art director of the show, told CGTN.

While the musical highlights traditional Chinese culture, it also incorporates some elements of Western music.

"Given that musical theater is relatively modern, relying heavily on purely traditional musical elements could potentially slow the tempo," said Zheng, adding that they aimed to provide a more impactful experience for young audiences.

Exploring the charm of Li Bai

Zheng describes the Li Bai he portrays as "unyielding and rebellious, free and easy, and romantic." 

"As an actor, portraying such a character is quite risky. The more familiar the character is to the audience, the greater the challenge, because their acceptance might be lower," he said.

In terms of the grand poem "Qiang Jin Jiu," Zheng said it was presented in semi-chant style and put at the very end of the musical.

"It isn't directly related to the storyline," Zheng explained. "I wanted to highlight Li Bai's carefree spirit to the fullest, rather than using the poem to thread the plot together."

New artistic forms offer fresh interpretations of traditional culture

"Whenever I see people sharing Chinese traditional culture on various online video platforms, I feel proud of my country," Yu said.

She thinks these efforts represent the younger generation making efforts to contribute.

"Whether as filmmakers or stage performers, we all wish to make a difference," said the actress.

As new artistic forms emerge, they offer fresh interpretations of traditional stories, cultural elements and historical figures.

"I believe this is a great way to spread knowledge and help audiences gain a multifaceted understanding of China," said Zheng.

He emphasized the most important factor in presenting traditional Chinese culture is respect.

"From a presentation perspective, the audience can feel it," he said.

"Many great ideas deserve our careful consideration, which then paves the way for more innovation and research," said the actor. "I believe that these platforms and artistic mediums offer excellent opportunities for us as artists to excel in this endeavor, as it is vital to preserve and pass on our cultural legacy."

Yu believes China's traditional culture has entered an era of frequent innovation and creative transformation.

"People are increasingly proud of their cultural heritage and more confident in expressing it. I am optimistic that this will lead to an increase in outstanding original works based on traditional culture," she said.

Videographer: Guo Huakang

Video editor: Guo Meiping

Cover image: Liu Shaozhen