TOURISTS to a sacred mountain in Shandong Province have a new attraction to see - a lights and drama extravaganza featuring China's largest LED screen.
The outdoor performance, which producers claim is based on the area's history and culture, is part of a growing, but controversial, movement to imbue China's tourist spots with a "cultural" content.
The Worship of Heaven and Earth on Mount Taishan, which opened on Saturday, depicts ancient emperors paying homage to Heaven and Earth, praying for peace and prosperity for the nation.
The show is staged on an altar that is 27 meters high and 53 meters wide and has 146 steps, the sides of which are covered with LED lights to form China's largest screen of 567 square meters.
The performance brought the ancient culture of Mount Taishan to life and helped visitors to better understand the rituals involved in historical events, said Li Liuyi, director of the performance.
The show would be performed daily from March to July every year, said a statement from the Taishan administrative committee.
"The performance is a magnificent combination of modern technology and ancient culture,'' said Beijing visitor Zhang Hongfa. ''It presents history, legends and folklore in an artistic way."
Producer Mei Shuaiyuan said he was confident the performance, which cost 120 million yuan (US$17.6 million), would recoup the investment within two years.
He cited Impression Liu Sanjie, another outdoor performance in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in the south of the country, which recouped its 70 million-yuan investment in one year, and earned more than 80 million yuan annually.
Mei also produced an outdoor show in a valley 7 kilometers from the Shaolin Temple, - the birthplace of Chinese martial arts. The Zen Music Shaolin Grand Ceremony show received 230,000 viewers in 2009, generating revenue of 25 million yuan, up 10 percent.
After the success of Impression Liu Sanjie and Zen Music Shaolin Grand Ceremony, outdoor performances mushroomed across China.
A team led by Beijing Olympics opening ceremony director Zhang Yimou has created five "impression series" shows in scenic spots in Yunnan, Zhejiang, Hainan and Jiangxi provinces.