The Shaanxi People's Art Theater's rendition of Bai Lu Yuan features impressive stage sets that are reflective of real-life Shaanxi society. The music is inspired by the traditional Qinqiang Opera. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The Beijing People's Art Theater adapted the classic into a play back in 2006. It was directed by eminent Chinese stage director Lin Zhaohua and featured famous actors, including Pu Cunxin and Song Dandan.

Meng Bing wrote the script for the play for both the Beijing People's Art Theater and Shaanxi People's Art Theater. He says the play's current national tour is a commemoration of Chen, who died of cancer at the age of 73 in April 2016.

"To adapt a novel with more than 500,000 words to a three-hour play is quite challenging," says Meng.

Meng has written nearly 100 scripts for TV series, films and plays.

"I visited Chen and talked with him before adapting the novel into a script. And Chen shared his ideas about writing the novel and his analysis of the characters, which was very helpful," he says.