Nestled in Ganzhou, East China's Jiangxi province, Huichang is a tranquil county that has quietly become one of China's most compelling destinations for live performance — and this month and June, it welcomes the world.

A stage with deep roots

Huichang may not appear on most international travel itineraries, and that is part of what makes it worth visiting. Located in southeastern Jiangxi province, the town sits at the confluence of three rivers and carries more than 1,000 years of the Hakka culture and legacy.

For director Stan Lai, one of the Chinese-speaking world's most celebrated theater-makers and a man with deep personal roots here, Huichang has become an artistic home. His vision gave rise to Huichang Theatre Village, where ancient residences and ancestral halls have been restored and woven together with modern stages and studios.

Like the Avignon Festival in France and the Wuzhen Theatere Festival in East China's Zhejiang province, Huichang combines performance, architecture, and local community in ways that recall some of the world's most distinctive site-based theater gatherings. The fourth edition of Huichang Theatre Season runs from May 29 to June 7, bringing together Chinese and international artists across nearly 400 shows and more than 30 productions.

The opening act: Ibsen, reimagined in Chinese

Opening a theater festival is a statement of intent. For Huichang Theatre Season 004, that statement comes in the form of Hedda Gabler, Henrik Ibsen's classic drama reborn in a Chinese-language production directed by Travis Preston, an American director long celebrated for his groundbreaking work with Ibsen. "It's an opportunity for Chinese audiences to see this classic work in a new light," said Preston, "one that speaks directly to their lives."

The full program: A world of theater in one town

Across indoor stages and open spaces, the festival's events bring together classical adaptations, heritage fusion, Italian commedia, and street performances. Below is a curated overview of key productions and events. Tickets and further information are available via the festival's official website (https://m.theatreabove.com/huichang) and WeChat account, Huichang Theatre Village (會(huì)昌戲劇小鎮(zhèn)).

On stage:

Hedda Gabler 《海妲·蓋柏樂(lè)》: Ibsen's 1890 classic reimagined in Chinese, directed by Travis Preston.

Dates & Tickets: May 29-June 1, 150 to 580 yuan ($22 to $86)

Venue: Theatre Converge 會(huì)劇場(chǎng)

Dreamwalk 《夢(mèng)游》: An environmental theater production written and directed by Stan Lai, set in an ancient mansion and inspired by The Peony Pavilion.

Dates & Tickets: May 29-June 7, 480 yuan

Venue: Xiuchun Theatre 繡春劇場(chǎng)

Cosmic Tree 《天地樹(shù)》: Immersive ritual theater uniting ecology, philosophy, and light-and-sound design. A meditative work on the bond between sky, earth, tree, and humankind.

Dates & Tickets: May 30-June 1, 280 to 680 yuan

Venue: Lai Family Mansion Plaza 賴(lài)家老屋廣場(chǎng)

River / Cloud《江/云·之/間》: A poetic exploration of lost letters and missed connections drawn from Lai's Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land.

Dates & Tickets: May 30-31, 280 to 980 yuan 

Venue: Huichang Culture Art Centre 會(huì)昌文化藝術(shù)中心

Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land, Heritage Edition《暗戀桃花源傳承版》: Stan Lai's iconic tragicomedy returns in a landmark 40th-anniversary production. 

Dates & Tickets: June 6-7, 280 to 980 yuan

Venue: Huichang Culture Art Centre 會(huì)昌文化藝術(shù)中心

Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land, Theatre Converge Version《暗戀桃花源會(huì)劇場(chǎng)版》: The production blends modern drama with local Gannan tea-picking opera, bringing ancient and contemporary voices into bold conversation.

Dates & Tickets: June 3-4, 150 to 480 yuan

Venue: Theatre Converge 會(huì)劇場(chǎng)

La Scortecata《剝皮記》: An Italian commedia dell'arte adaptation of a Baroque folktale by Teatro Biondo di Palermo, with minimalist staging and virtuosic physical performance in a comic fable.

Dates & Tickets: June 5–6, 380 yuan

Venue: The Open Space 實(shí)驗(yàn)劇場(chǎng)

Around the town:

PANORAMA 《人間電影院》: Follow the French Kino Theatre into a 360-degree rotating mini cinema — draw back the curtain, and the real world becomes the performance.

Dates & Tickets: May 31-June 6, 60 yuan

Venue: Wisdom Square 有容廣場(chǎng)

CoraSon 《共聲》: By Cie Les Rustines de l'Ange, this street performance blends choir, accordion, and percussion, transforming public space into an intimate soundscape. 

Dates & Tickets: June 3–7, 60 yuan

Venue: Lai Family Mansion Plaza 賴(lài)家老屋廣場(chǎng)

?a va Valser! 《一起華爾茲》: French company Cie Les Rustines de l'Ange brings accordion music into the town's lanes, inviting audiences to join spontaneous open-air performances.

Dates: May 30-June 1

Young String Lion Performers 《線獅少年》: The Xingxian Youth String Lion Troupe from Fujian province reimagines a 1,300-year-old string lion dance tradition with rap and breakdance.

Dates: May 30-June 2

Venue: Wisdom Square 有容廣場(chǎng)

Beyond the stage: Talks, workshops, and hands-on culture

A significant portion of the festival's programming is free and open to the public, inviting audiences to participate more deeply in the cultural life of the town.

Highlights include director Stan Lai's masterclass on the creation of Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land, a dialogue between Travis Preston and Lai on cross-cultural theater-making, and a music salon featuring folk musician Hu Defu, with Lai performing across rock, jazz, and blues. To participate in activities, please complete the registration form: https://v.wjx.cn/vm/mBsIf3k.aspx.

Workshop participants can join "The Act of Creation," an immersive workshop led by performing artist Tom Greder, exploring creativity, self-expression, and stage communication. They can also try hands-on cultural experiences such as painting traditional lion head masks, or join heritage craft sessions including Songjin brocade pendants, herbal sachets, and clay hairpins. Full information and registration are available via the Theatre Training Above Center (上劇堂) WeChat mini-program.

Plan your visit: Essential information

Location: Huichang Theatre Village, Huichang county, Ganzhou, Jiangxi province

Ticket info: Package tickets and student discounts (50 percent off) are available. Please refer to the official WeChat account or website for more information.

Getting there: 

By air: Huangjin Airport, Ruijin Airport

By high-speed rail: Huichang North Station, Ruijin Station, Ganzhou West Station (Note: During the festival, shuttle buses operate between Ruijin Airport/railway station and the Huichang Theatre Village. Please refer to the official Huichang Theatre Village WeChat account for details.)

By bus: Huichang Bus Station (會(huì)昌汽車(chē)站); Bus No 2 or No 6 provides direct access to the Theatre Village in about 30 minutes.

By taxi/self-driving: Navigate to the ground parking area on the north side of Huichang Theatre Village (會(huì)昌戲劇小鎮(zhèn)北側(cè)地上停車(chē)場(chǎng)).