Bring history to life

Armed with prop swords and rifles, a group of young participants charges into a town under the command of their "commander".

This isn't a scene from a movie set — it's "Genzhe Tuanzhang Daxiancheng" (Follow the Commander to Liberate the Town), an immersive interactive experience that has become a major attraction in Yinan county, Shandong province, particularly during this year's May Day holiday.

According to People's Daily, the activity recreates a 1941 battle from the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45). Each session draws thousands of visitors who "enlist" and march toward the "enemy-occupied town", engaging in simulated combat. After "recapturing the town", participants celebrate with a victory event.

On the Chinese lifestyle-sharing platform Xiaohongshu (RedNote), the hashtag for the activity has garnered over 7 million views.

This year, the experience added a dramatic twist by featuring Chinese actor Yang Qingwen, known for portraying villains in war dramas, in a special guest role.

"This isn't just a game; it's an immersive experience that allows children to feel the realities of war, with the sounds of gunfire and explosions intensifying the atmosphere," one participant, who attended the event with her child, told People's Daily.