Cultural performances are developing rapidly in China, nurturing new growth points for the cultural and tourism industry across the country this summer.

For instance, Chinese dance drama "Pingtan Impression," which recently commenced its one-month-long stay at the Pingtan International Performing Arts Center, has emerged as a prominent draw on Pingtan Island in east China's Fujian Province and attracted crowds of visitors.

Directed by renowned Chinese dancer-choreographer Yang Liping, the play drew inspiration from local legends and cultural legacy, and delved deep into traditional folk culture imbued with the distinctive regional hues from both sides of the Taiwan Strait, the Maritime Silk Road heritage, and the coastal defense traditions.

Spectators are treated to a display of intangible cultural treasures like dragon and lion dances, face-changing acts and Nuo opera, a religious ritual to ward off evil spirits.

"Its essence and elements are based on the folk culture and history of Pingtan, the two sides of the Strait, and the Fujian region, allowing audiences from all over the country and even overseas to experience the charm of Pingtan through stage performance," said Yang.

"We are here on a trip. I was amazed and even touched by the cultures reflected in the performance. Originally planning to stay for just two days, I might extend my visit by a few more days," said a tourist.

With the arrival of the summer vacation season, Fujian's Wuyishan National Park is also witnessing a surge in visitor numbers. The epic live-action audio-visual feast "Moonlight Over Wuyi," currently shown in the park is offering visitors with an immersive experience of the local cultural heritage, via a seamless blend of performance arts with visual imagery and other innovative features. Since its debut during the May Day holiday, the show has attracted nearly 40,000 visitors.

Elsewhere in east China, Quzhou, a city in Zhejiang Province, also bring its landmarks onto the stage in a new play at Shuiting Theater to draw in tourists. The 90-minute play "Immerse in Dreams" tells the story of how an heirloom of descendants of Confucius was kept in wartime. The stage is set against a backdrop of the city's landmarks, such as the Quzhou Confucius Ancestral Temple, the Lanke Mountain and the Shuitingmen scenic spot.

The theater pushes the boundary of the stage and puts audiences in the world of the thrilling story, allowing them to take part in the show.

"It's wonderful. The audience can move around quite freely, which is a great experience and very special," said a spectator.

From June 1 to onwards, the Quzhou Ancient City Cultural Tourism Zone has experienced a peak in visitor numbers, which had reached over 2.113 million as of July 15.