The play Pingtan Impression, produced, directed and starring renowned Chinese dancer Yang Liping, is set to boost Pingtan's international profile as the show embarks on an Asian tour in late 2017.

The show's latest run will begin with a performance at the opening ceremony of the China Shanghai International Arts Festival in October, before stopping at 72 cities in countries including Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore, according to Wen ling, president of Fujian Xinhongyi Cultural Media Co, the play’s major sponsor.

The show will shine a spotlight on Pingtan's cultural heritage by weaving together different strands from the city's traditional folk culture.

The show will include snippets of Pingtan's local dialect, old stories, myths, and legends, as well as puppet and marionette shows, dragon-lion dances, and recreations of the local ritual of paying homage to the gods and goddesses of the sea.

After 2019, Pingtan Impression will be performed at the Pingtan International Performing Center located next to the Aoqian roll-on/roll-off passenger ship wharf on a regular basis, according to Wen.

"Pingtan is endowed with beautiful natural landscapes and enchanting ancient folk culture, and we hope through the play, more people could get to know the city," said Yang Liping during her recent trip to the city on June 11.

Yang is famed for appearing in the performance art show Dynamic Yunnan, which has toured all across China, selling out many large venues.

Performers wearing colorful masks dance onstage during the premiere of Pingtan Impression in Beijing on Jan 15. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]