A new dining trend in Beijing, known as "Culinary Theatre", is transforming meals into immersive journeys through time and imagination. At these venues, diners can step into historical dramas, enjoying delicacies alongside unfolding narratives set amid pavilions and gardens. “I really liked the effects when the water came down and the flowers fell on the actors, it was beautiful,” said German diner Aimeric Malter.

Blending literature, drama, music, and digital art, the concept offers a fully interactive experience. One restaurant even synchronises 3D animations with real dishes, delighting diners as stories come alive on their plates.

“We bring the worlds from literary works into reality… allowing young people to physically enter the atmosphere of those stories,” said Li Lijun, operations manager of a classical-themed restaurant.

With city support for innovative dining, Culinary Theatre showcases Beijing’s cultural and technological creativity, turning every meal into a memorable, sensory adventure.

Source: China Central Television