Starting Saturday, Kung Fu Hot Pot is being performed two or three times a day during the five-day May Day holiday and once a day after the holiday for Chongqing residents and tourists.
On April 26, the China National Acrobatic Troupe's stage play Kung Fu Hot Pot premiered at the Chongqing Grand Theater. Over 500 audience members enjoyed a 60-minute amusing and hilarious story full of twists.
Stage photo of the acrobatic stage play Kung Fu Hot Pot. (Photo/Chongqing Grand Theater)
The debut of Chongqing Grand Theater • Tourism Theater
As the venue for the play, the Tourism Theater is located on the B2 floor of Chongqing Grand Theater, overlooking the intersection of the Jialing River and the Yangtze River. As a new theater specially designed for culture and tourism projects, the Tourism Theater spans an area of 1,500 square meters and offers 600 seats. Alongside large, medium, small, and outdoor theaters, it forms part of the cultural and performing arts complex of Chongqing Grand Theater.
Kung Fu Hot Pot, the first production staged at the Tourism Theater, focuses on hot pot culture and seamlessly blends acrobatics with modern popular creation forms and techniques. The play integrates Chongqing's distinctive culture and hot pot elements, resulting in an international and universally appealing stage play that is "small, fine, and novel." With diverse and innovative stage visual forms, it presents breathtaking scenes that provoke bursts of laughter.
Stage photo of the acrobatic stage play Kung Fu Hot Pot. (Photo/Chongqing Grand Theater)
Boasting first-class sound, lighting, and stage art facilities with an international design style, the Tourism Theater is Chongqing Grand Theater's latest addition, specifically catering to tourists. In the coming days, it will host a variety of performances, including dances, plays, talk shows, and dramas. The Tourism Theater also enjoys a prime location near "Chongqing's Maldives," offering an aerial view of the night scenery featuring cruise ships, Chaotianmen Dock, Hongyadong, and Qiansimen Bridge. The nearby Jiangtan Park is one of Chongqing's internet-famous attractions, drawing numerous tourists with drone shows and fireworks displays during major holidays.
Excellent performers and a combination of art forms
The stage play Kung Fu Hot Pot tells a humorous story of four bumbling thieves led by "Brother Yi," who mistakenly break into Liu's Chongqing Hot Pot restaurant, sparking an uproarious battle between good and evil. Acrobatic artist Cao Kai, who holds a Guinness World Record for hand skills, plays the role of "Older Liu," while "Master of Diabolo" Zhao Zhihan, a world gold medal champion, portrays "Younger Liu." These two outstanding acrobats play a father and son who frequently bicker with each other. Together with eight other talented acrobats, they put on a spectacular show for the audience.
Stage photo of the acrobatic stage play Kung Fu Hot Pot. (Photo/Chongqing Grand Theater)
Kung Fu Hot Pot is a pure action performance without any lines, designed to resonate with Chinese and foreign audiences of all ages. As a new production that integrates various art forms, it features a Chongqing-style stage design, showcases the city's cultural styles, and offers a hot, hilarious, and novel interactive experience with Chongqing characteristics. The 60-minute performance boasts multiple high points, continuous climaxes, and engaging plots. Actors with diverse styles come together to present an audio-visual feast that combines performance, acrobatics, multimedia, and elements of the mountain city. This family-friendly "Tale of Hot Pot" embodies Chongqing's features.
Kung Fu Hot Pot is being performed twice daily at 15:00 and 20:00 during the May Day holiday from April 29 to May 3 and once at 20:00 starting May 4.