French theme park operator Puy du Fou plans to explore more projects in the Chinese market after its immersive theater in Shanghai reported success in its opening period.

The Sino-French joint theater project, which opened to the public in September 2024, involves a total investment of 650 million yuan (about 89.8 million U.S. dollars), making it the Guinness World Record holder for the largest immersive theater show in terms of area.

Famous for its historical presentations, the theater presents an interactive journey that brings audiences back to Shanghai in the 1930s, letting audience members make choices that lead to different branches of the story.

"The guests will come from one room to another room and sometimes we'll have the choice. So in front of us we have two different doors, and after seeing the act in this room, they will have to choose whether they go. On the left or on the right," said Geoffroy Ladet, CEO of Puy du Fou Asia.

Despite the huge investment, Puy du Fou found the project rewarding. The Shanghai project now welcomes hundreds of audience members every day, showcasing the potential of the Chinese market and boosting its confidence in further investments.

"We restarted the project at the beginning of 2020, so it has not been the easiest period of time to develop large scale projects for foreigners here in Shanghai. But we went through all these difficulties and we reached to open (later). But obviously the investment is a challenge for us and now we will need to be successful in the coming years," said Ladet.

In the latest government work report delivered on March 5, the Chinese government emphasized promoting cultural sector development and encouraging foreign investment in the sector. In addition to Puy du Fou, other foreign culture and entertainment companies also expressed expectations to expand in China, including a new Legoland theme park that is planned to open in Shanghai this summer.