Christie powers Kaifeng nighttime spectacle

The ancient capital of Kaifeng city is being transformed into a sweeping canvas of light, architecture, landscape and water for the Moon Over Kaifeng’s Southern Courtyard nighttime spectacle. The large-scale experience in Henan province incorporates 24 Christie HS Series, Inspire Series and Captiva laser projectors, installed and commissioned by Jianye Display.

The cultural tourism project has been designed to reinvigorate Kaifeng – the ancient capital of eight dynasties – after dark by combining immersive projection and live performances to animate a historic government courthouse and a picturesque lake.

“This project demanded absolute precision at every stage, from structural validation to sub-millimetre calibration,” said Zhiqiang Tan, project manager at Jianye Display. “The Christie laser projectors used in the performances provided the brightness, reliability and image consistency needed to transform complex architectural and natural surfaces into a cohesive, emotionally powerful nighttime experience.”

Jianye Display’s technical team worked from concept to completion to navigate complex challenges, from structural verification to fine-tuned laser calibration. Tan noted that precise adjustments helped to reduce projection focus variance to within 0.5mm ensuring that history is presented with contemporary clarity and visual fidelity.

Each evening, amidst the echoes of drums through the city gate tower, a 3D countdown signals the start of the performance. A choreographed crescendo of gauze screens, mountain backdrops, a stone tablet and a hall converge to culminate in a performance depicting legendary Song Dynasty judge Bao Zheng, also known as Justice Bao.

The primary performance venue, Heavenly King Hall, features a 31m x 17m (WxH) projection that transforms the grand façade into a living mural. This visual centrepiece is achieved using six HS Series laser projectors delivering 19,150 lumens each, bathing the structure in imagery that sets the stage for immersive storytelling rooted in Song Dynasty history.

Adding further depth and drama to the live performance, vivid imagery flanks the hall on gauze screens measuring 16m x 3m (LxH). These visuals are delivered via rear projection using 10 Captiva DWU500S short throw laser projectors, enveloping audiences with layered, three-dimensional scenes designed to enhance both scale and intimacy.

A stone tablet in front of the Heavenly King Hall also becomes another storytelling surface with a three-sided projection featuring two DWU760-iS units to animate the stone with visuals that reveal the Chinese character for integrity, stroke by stroke. The projections measure 3.8m x 3.5m (WxH) across all three sides.

The mirror-like Mingjing Lake takes centre stage at the rear garden of the historic courthouse. Here, six HS Series laser projectors illuminate a 30m x 14m (HxW) mountain backdrop and a 17-metre-wide water screen. Used in conjunction with live performances, the visuals unfold like an unfurled scroll – merging water, poetry and moonlight to celebrate the works of Su Shi, a revered Song Dynasty poets.

“Moon Over Kaifeng’s Southern Courtyard is a powerful example of how projection can bridge heritage and modern storytelling,” said Gene Wang, director of pro AV sales for China, Christie. “By combining multiple Christie laser projectors in a single, large-scale deployment, the project showcases how advanced visualisation can elevate cultural tourism and bring history vividly to life.”