Yanqing lights up night tourism with cultural spectacles

Northwestern Beijing's Yanqing district has unveiled immersive nighttime experiences that merge cutting-edge technology with rich cultural heritage.

The crown jewel is the returning Badaling Night Tour, where the Great Wall transforms into a luminous stage from April 30 to Oct 7. The tour will run from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Visitors traverse six themed zones featuring live performances — from Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) generals performing martial dances to interactive market simulations complete with souvenirs. Weekend additions include electrifying parties atop the ancient battlements, while newly operational night cable cars reveal breathtaking aerial views of the illuminated serpentine wall.

Complementing this is the upgraded Guihe River night show, an aquatic spectacular running weekends through Oct 8. This year's edition expands to nine ethereal scenes told from the perspective of the mythical Guihe River nymph, combining floating stages with holographic projections.

For history enthusiasts, the Dreams of the Great Wall stage performance delivers a 40-minute emotional journey through an ancient general's defense of the northern frontier.

"These productions represent our vision for next-generation cultural tourism," says Rong Xinfeng, chair of the Badaling Culture and Tourism Group.