Shanghai has once again taken the spotlight with its latest cultural and tourism landmark! French tourism giant Puy du Fou has invested heavily in creating an immersive offline cinematic experience called “SAGA City of Light” at the iconic Shanghai Everbright Convention & Exhibition Center.
With a total investment of ¥650 million and spanning an impressive 46,000 square meters, the indoor performance area alone covers over 1,211 square meters, directly breaking the Guinness World Record and earning the title of “The Largest Immersive Theater Performance Area”!
Featuring over 150 professional actors, more than 50 large-scale “movie” scenes, and an astounding 1,300 types of vintage props totaling 26,000 pieces, this experience allows you to step into the roles of director and protagonist, traversing different spaces and times, and embarking on a thrilling adventure filled with suspense, romance, legends, and culture!
Asian Debut of Sino-French Cultural Tourism Giants
“SAGA City of Light,” located in the West Hall of the Everbright Convention & Exhibition Center, marks the Asian debut of Puy du Fou’s city-center performance series brand, Profound Light China (SAGA).
This unprecedented large-scale immersive “offline cinematic experience” is set against the backdrop of old Shanghai. From the scene actors and captivating plot to the artistic concepts and advanced technology, it boasts an incredibly strong and luxurious configuration, perfectly capturing the immersive experience of “stepping into a blockbuster.”
The creative and props teams have visited nearly every corner of China to recreate the authentic feel of the era. From the 80-meter-long, 1:1 scale ship cabins and trains to the tens of thousands of vintage props, both the sense of realism and the “cinematic” feel are fully realized.
Moreover, the indoor performance area, spanning an impressive 12,110.833 square meters, has broken the Guinness World Record, earning the title of “The Largest Immersive Theater Performance Area.”
From the moment you step through the main entrance, the public area, designed in an Art Deco style, leaves us in awe.
Against the backdrop of a golden main tone and sturdy wooden structures, the luxurious hall exudes a sense of theatrical tension at every turn. The escalators leading to the second floor, paired with the red curtains, create a stunning visual within the theater.
Scattered suitcase installations seem to guide us into this journey through time, and the photogenic quality is undeniable!
After presenting our specially designed “train tickets” for inspection, we enter the waiting area. Accompanied by the melodious piano music, the fashionably dressed “passengers” instantly immerse themselves in the scene, engaging in lively conversations with us as the journey quietly begins…
Experience Different Lives in Parallel Universes
The legendary story of “SAGA City of Light” takes place in the turbulent times of old Shanghai. During your journey, you will experience the undercurrents beneath the seemingly peaceful surface and a life-or-death escape. You will also encounter international friends, ordinary citizens, and patriotic merchants, making difficult choices at moments when fate hangs in the balance.
This is not only an immersive experience that puts you in the scene but also a reconstruction of a parallel universe and a parallel life directed by you.
Before the show begins, a mysterious butler will guide players to a secret bar, where they will don a red cloak and be assigned the identity of a hidden figure.
The entire bar is shrouded in a dim, yellowish light, with exquisite crystal glasses, liquor cabinets, and chandeliers that are meticulously detailed. Everywhere you look, there is a strong sense of nostalgia and storytelling.
The main storyline unfolds through three doors that lead to different rooms and timelines. Your choices determine the development of different plots and routes, where you go, and whom you encounter, all under your direction.
Perhaps you will obtain a mysterious crystal and awaken the sleeping King Fuchai of Wu in the tower, or you may witness a tense fight scene in the Blue Bar and gain clues from a master-disciple martial arts competition in the martial arts hall!
Every character and scene encountered along the way, whether it’s the vendors occasionally hawking their wares on the street, the familiar sound of the shoemaker’s “scissors sharpening,” a bowl of childhood-reminiscent Chaihuang wonton, or the grocery store owner who’s always playing chess… will make people involuntarily immerse themselves, forgetting about space and time, reality and stage.
With over 150 professional actors, more than 50 large-scale “movie” scenes, and an astounding 1,300 types of vintage props totaling 26,000 pieces, the entire venue’s lavish set and detailed props create an abundance of plot options that will keep you hooked!
After the experience, you can also visit the cultural and creative retail area to get your favorite souvenirs to take home. In the future, “SAGA City of Light” will also open restaurants, themed bars, and cafes, allowing you to enjoy a one-stop experience of dining, drinking, and entertainment in addition to the immersive theatrical and cultural experience.
The French Cultural Tourism Giant Sweeping the Globe
As the French cultural tourism giant behind “SAGA City of Light,” Puy du Fou is the world’s only large-scale theme park brand 100% dedicated to recreating historical scenes and traditional culture.
This global leader in historical and cultural performance, founded in 1977, has swept the world over the past four decades, garnering 27 international awards and being recognized as the world’s best theme park!
Puy du Fou combines history with legend, creating moving works of art through unique and realistic stage sets and a subtle blend of grandeur and poetry. It crafts cultural tourism destinations suitable for all ages, combining historical, cultural, and humanistic artistic qualities, leading audiences on a journey through time.
Its flagship Puy du Fou France park is the world’s only green-certified theme park, welcoming over 2.5 million visitors annually and continuously staging more than 22 grand performances, with the most popular being the highly sought-after global premiere of La Cinéscénie!
Today, Puy du Fou has expanded from France to Europe and the world, with its Asian “City Center Project” plan gradually launched in 2018.
The company has established an Asian company in Hong Kong, China, a China headquarters in Shanghai, and a cultural and creative center in Hangzhou. With the debut of the new city center project “SAGA City of Light” in Shanghai, other Puy du Fou Asian city center projects will also meet the public in the next decade, potentially becoming a benchmark brand for immersive cultural tourism in Asia!
The unforgettable journey through time and space has more stories waiting to unfold in parallel universes…
SAGA City of Light
Address: 88 Caobao Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai
Performance Times: Weekdays 18:00-21:00; Weekends and National Holidays 11:00-14:00, 18:00-21:00 (specific viewing times are subject to official release)
Transportation: Exit 8 of Caobao Road Station on Metro Line 1/Metro Line 12
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