Aranya fires up theater festival

Visitors flock to seaside community for 11 days of art and performances, Cheng Yuezhu reports in Qinhuangdao, Hebei.

The seaside Aranya community in Qinhuangdao, Hebei province, has been a popular retreat since its founding. A library, a community hall and an art museum, all featuring minimalistic architectural styles and restrained aesthetics, align a strip of beach.

The inaugural Aranya Theater Festival in 2021 kicked off an annual 10-day some summer celebration, which sees the tranquil seaside town take on a striking new look. From June 19 to 29 this year, the streets were dotted by dramatic installations and floats, avant-garde theater productions from around the world, and diverse activities.

This year's festival parade featured 14 futuristic floats presenting artists' works, performers of different genres, and countless visitors. As the procession reached its destination, a massive bonfire installation inspired by Indian literary giant Rabindranath Tagore's Stray Birds was lit, with the crowd singing along to music.