With a backdrop of the world-famous Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is one of the most popular events for visitors during the city’s festival season in August. Now the event's producer says they are pushing forward with plans to take the military showcase to China in 2020.

Highland clans march onto the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle, as the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo explores the rich history of Scotland’s Clans and Families through music. This year’s line-up also features a strong Royal Navy and Marine presence, as well as participants from France, India, Japan and the United States.

“This year's theme is Splash of Tartan. That is about Tartan, this color, this fabric, the national fabric of Scotland. The "splash" symbolizes the sea and the Royal Navy. So we have the Royal Marines, we have aircraft carriers, and we have navy jets and many other things. Most importantly for us though, Splash of Tartan allows us to talk to Scottish communities around the world, as well as those who have an interest in Scotland,” said David Allfrey, Chief Executive and Producer of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

The international flavor of the Military Tattoo is a key element of entertaining over 8,000 people each evening. Following its success at home, organizers say they are going to take the event overseas. The Tattoo traveled to Australia and New Zealand last year to great acclaim.

The team is now working with Chinese co-producers to bring a Chinese military regiment to Scotland for next year's tattoo. The military showcase will then travel to China in 2020. Allfrey hopes the Military Tattoo can contribute to China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative, which coincides with the tattoo’s core purpose of bringing people together.

“It is my dream that we go to three cities in China. We would like to go to Beijing, we would like to go to Shanghai, we would like to go to Guangzhou. These places have great stadiums, great audiences. Our greatest pleasure is to come and study and co-produce with Chinese produces,” said Allfrey. “Some of the world's greatest producers come from China, and it is my ambition to work with these producers to deliver a show in China that has Chinese culture at its heart, but also features all of our collective cultures,” he added.

To facilitate its plans for a Chinese tour, the Military Tattoo signed a deal with WeChat Pay, one of the largest payment systems in China. It comes following the continued influx of Chinese nationals making the trip to the Tattoo each year. There was an 89% increase in tickets sold directly to Chinese visitors for the Tattoo between 2015 and 2016.

The partnership will allow the Tattoo launch a ticketing system for the show next year, improving its services for Chinese audiences. But the agreement with WeChat could also reach far beyond this musical event.

“The Edinburgh Military Tattoo is the first business in Scotland to sign up with WeChat pay. We are really proud of that,” said Martin Reynolds, Project Manager of China-Ready Initiative, Edinburgh Tourism Action Group.

"We want as many Chinese people as possible to enjoy the Military Tattoo, but we also want lots of hotels, restaurants and shops to start to take WeChat Pay as well. And maybe Alipay and others, so more and more Chinese people can enjoy Scotland.”