More than 50 Christie 1DLP laser projectors are at the heart of “Ballad of Chu,” an immersive theatrical performance in China’s Hubei province that fuses heritage storytelling with cutting-edge technology. As the country’s first indoor immersive show centered on Jingchu culture, the production sets a new standard for integrating projection into large-scale cultural attractions.

Housed in Mulan Everbright Town — home of the legendary folk heroine Hua Mulan — “Ballad of Chu” uses visual effects and immersive staging to showcase Jingchu cultural heritage. The 14,000-square-meter (150,695-square-foot) venue features several performance zones, including a third-floor theater, a second-floor “Zhaojun Goes to the Frontier” set, and the “Battle of Red Cliffs” projection zone. Jianye Display handled projection design, installation and systems integration across the spaces.

“Mulan Everbright Town has rapidly become a phenomenal night tourism landmark since its opening earlier this year,” said Ke Zhou, regional manager of Hubei district, Jianye Display. “Christie’s 1DLP laser projectors were chosen for their high performance, color accuracy, and reliability, which are essential for delivering high-impact visuals in immersive environments. This project blends tradition with cutting-edge technology, offering visitors an unforgettable cultural experience.”

The third-floor theater, equipped with 360-degree rotating seats, uses 36 Christie laser projectors to deliver four-sided immersive visuals. On the second floor, six Captiva DWU500S projectors pair with custom electric gauze screens to create soft-focus dreamlike scenes in Zhaojun Goes to the Frontier. The “Battle of Red Cliffs” zone uses three Inspire Series DWU860-iS projectors to display dynamic wall and floor projections.

Large-scale surfaces include a 9.6-meter by 6-meter (31.5-foot by 19.7-foot) flying screen and a 10.6-meter by 6-meter (34.8-foot by 19.7-foot) projection wall in the third-floor theater, both powered by 4K13-HS projectors. Additional projector models used throughout the venue include the DWU1612-HS, DWU8902-GS, DWU1100-GS and DWU760-iS.

Zhou noted the team faced technical challenges, particularly with projection mapping in the third-floor theater. “They employed 3D simulation techniques to accurately model light paths at a 1:1 scale, ensuring optimal projector placement,” he said. Weatherproof enclosures and intelligent temperature and humidity monitoring systems were also added to preserve projector performance in demanding environmental conditions.

“Christie’s laser projectors bring an unparalleled level of realism and depth to immersive environments in the ‘Ballad of Chu’ theatrical performance,” said April Qin, senior sales director for China, Christie. “Their ability to deliver rich colors, sharp details, and seamless integration across large-scale installations makes them ideal for cultural tourism projects. We are proud to support Jianye Display in bringing this extraordinary production to life and setting new standards for experiential storytelling.”

Since its debut, “Ballad of Chu” has earned praise from audiences and industry experts alike. Visitors describe the production as visually stunning and emotionally resonant, while Yue Chen, head of the Mulan Huaxiang Scenic Area, noted that the show not only fills a gap in live experiences focused on Jingchu culture but also sets a benchmark for merging cultural tourism with immersive tech.