Theatrical show immerses audience in history of China's Qin dynasty

A magnificent immersive theatrical performance has transported the audience through the epic history of ancient China's Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) in Xi'an, the capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

The super-large-scale stage show "The Great Qin" was performed at the opening ceremony of the 10th Silk Road International Arts Festival on the night of Oct 12.

This 80-minute show was staged in a state-of-the-art theater featuring 1,500 mobile seats, multi-space theater layout, and the use of cutting-edge multimedia technology, lighting design and stage mechanical systems.

With six incredible scenes, the spectacular drama recreates the imperial palaces and battlefields back 2,200 years to the Qin dynasty, allowing the audience to experience grand history and culture of the empire and the Chinese nation through immersive technologies.

"In the 32,000-square-meter theater, the show innovatively integrates opera, dance drama, music drama and stage play. In the spatial changes between six scenes, various special effects such as water, lightning, wind and fog are staged in turn, allowing the audience to enjoy the unprecedented visual impact and soul-stirring moments brought by the integration of history and art in the huge indoor space," said Pang Bo, chairman of the Shaanxi Culture Industry Investment Group, the producer of "The Great Qin."

The Qin dynasty is China's first united state and the Qin culture is one of the roots of Chinese culture.

"The Great Qin" uses the story of a historical figure during the Qin dynasty as the main line, presenting the process of the rise of the empire from the perspective of an ordinary person. It not only depicts Qin people's course of hard struggle, but also conveys the spirit of patriotism in the Chinese culture.

"We use the method of real-scene performance in a large indoor space to transform the history into a warm and touchable product by combining cultural content with modern technology, and present the historical significance and value of the Qin dynasty as well as the struggle spirit and open mind of the Qin people to today's people in a more vivid form," said Pang.

"The Great Qin" was debuted in the ancient city of Xi'an on Sept 27, 2024, and has since been set as a regular performance for tourists.

Theatrical show immerses audience in history of China's Qin dynasty

In his new year's call to world leaders, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday urged world leaders to get "priorities straight" and invest in development, not destruction.

"As we enter the new year, the world stands at a crossroads. Chaos and uncertainty surround us. Division. Violence. Climate breakdown. And systemic violations of international law. A retreat from the very principles that bind us together as a human family. People everywhere are asking: Are leaders even listening? Are they ready to act?" Guterres said in his New Year message for 2026.

The scale of global suffering remains severe. More than one-quarter of humanity lives in conflict-affected areas, over 200 million people require humanitarian assistance, and nearly 120 million have been forcibly displaced by war, crises, disasters or persecution, according to UN statistics.

"As we turn the page on a turbulent year, one fact speaks louder than words: Global military spending has soared to 2.7 trillion dollars, growing by almost 10 percent. That is thirteen times more than all development aid, equivalent to the entire Gross Domestic Product of Africa. All, while conflict rages at levels unseen since World War II. On this new year, let's resolve to get our priorities straight. A safer world begins by investing more in fighting poverty and less in fighting wars," said the UN chief.

A UN report released in September 2025 showed that rising military spending comes at a high opportunity cost, noting that less than 4 percent of current global military expenditure could end world hunger by 2030, just over 10 percent could vaccinate every child worldwide, and reallocating 15 percent would be sufficient to cover annual climate adaptation costs in developing countries.

"Peace must prevail. It's clear the world has the resources to lift lives, heal the planet, and secure a future of peace and justice. In 2026, I call on leaders everywhere: Get serious. Choose people and planet over pain. And I urge everyone who hears this message: Play your part. Our future depends on our collective courage to act. This new year, let‘’s rise together: For justice. For humanity. For peace," he said.

UN chief issues New Year's call to world leaders for peace, development