Want to experience being "audience as actors"? Save this immersive Songcheng travel guide—it's all you need for your trip to Hangzhou.

Give me one day, and I'll give you a thousand years. That's what they say about Hangzhou Songcheng. It has exquisite period sets and nonstop shows running on rotation. Walk down the street and you'll find NPC interactions everywhere. Go indoors and you'll discover multimedia light halls and all kinds of performances. Follow along with this video as we step into the thousand-year-old Songcheng and explore its history and stories. If you want period photos, change into your favorite hanfu right after entering—it matches the scenery perfectly. Stroll around and every shot looks great. When you get here, don't just follow the map, because Songcheng's real charm lies in the performances you stumble across. Check the showtimes in advance so you don't miss anything. The most fun performances are definitely the street NPCs. Standing among them in these ancient settings, you're no longer a tourist—you're the lead in this Song Dynasty time-travel adventure. You could be pulled into their story at any moment. Interact with them, complete their tasks or answer their questions, and you'll earn silver notes. Collect enough and take them to the money house or shops to redeem for souvenirs—a great memento. "The Romance of the Song Dynasty" is called a once-in-a-lifetime must-see. Along with Las Vegas' "O" and Paris' Moulin Rouge, it's considered one of the world's three greatest shows. This isn't your average song-and-dance performance. Across five acts, it connects major moments in Hangzhou's history with classic legends, bringing local history and folklore to life—from Liangzhu culture to the glory of the Southern Song Dynasty. The scale is breathtaking. When the lights come up, over a hundred performers take the stage in turns, using dance and character acting to bring the story to life. Sometimes the action spills into the aisles, making you part of the story and blurring the line between audience and performer. "Earthquake" is something truly unique at Songcheng. It's not just a show to watch—it's an immersive 5D live-action experience you can act in. Before it starts, the director recruits volunteer extras right from the audience, perfect for anyone who loves performing. The show recreates the Wenchuan earthquake and the heart-pounding rescues that followed. You'll witness deeply moving stories and feel every emotion. Shijing Street at Songcheng is a replica of a Southern Song marketplace street modeled after "Along the River During the Qingming Festival." The bridge crossing the river is the iconic Bianjing Rainbow Bridge from the painting, and the most popular photo spot in the park. This street is the soul of Songcheng—the liveliest, most interactive place here. Every day there's a costume flash mob, voted by countless visitors as the most atmospheric and joyful free show at Songcheng. It's a celebration bridging past and present. When the music starts, characters in period costumes wandering the streets converge in the center, instantly igniting the crowd. Joining in with the performers takes the experience to another level. You can also catch Miss Wang's embroidered ball toss, where single men below compete to catch it. To see the full "Along the River During the Qingming Festival," head to the cinema hall. It doesn't just display a high-res copy—it uses modern technology to animate everyone in the painting, vividly recreating the bustle of ancient streets and revealing Songcheng's past prosperity. Past Shijing Street, the Beijie Shadow Puppet Theater presents "Three Strikes on the White Bone Demon," a classic traditional shadow play. Through nimble manipulation and vivid lighting, it recreates Sun Wukong's famous battle from "Journey to the West." It's fun for all ages, especially kids. If it's your first time seeing this ancient art form up close, you'll find it fascinating. The Light and Shadow Hall exists purely for beauty and spectacle. The walls and floors are screens displaying ever-changing dreamlike patterns. Walking in feels like stepping into a vast starry sky or mysterious worlds. There's no seating, making it perfect for photos. If daytime Songcheng is a lively trip through time, then nighttime Songcheng creates an immersive thousand-year dreamscape for visitors. When the warm red lanterns and fish-shaped lamps light up, the atmosphere is instant—you've entered the sleepless city of the Song Dynasty, and every casual snap looks epic. Head to the Performance Square at night and you might catch a bonfire party. It's not just watching—it's a massive interactive event you join. Around the roaring fire, the energy is electric. Dance with the crowd to the music and let go of your stress in pure joy. Songcheng isn't just a static ancient city—it's a kingdom of performance filled with interaction. Whether it's the immersive hands-on experiences or the spectacular large-scale shows, you'll find it all here. When you visit Hangzhou, don't miss this hidden gem.