The ballet draws inspiration from theDreamoftheRedChamber, considered one of China's four great classical novels, written in the 18th Century by Cao Xueqin.
Usually known for classic productions such as The Nutcracker and Swan Lake, TheDreamoftheRedChamber is a collaborative effort, with choreography by Wang Xin Peng, artistic director of Germany's Ballet Dortmund, and a musical score written by Oscar-winning composer Michael Nyman and performed by the Hong Kong Sinfonietta.