From October 6 to 7, EXO’s Lay Zhang held his concert GRANDLINE 5: The Monkey King Rocking the Heavenly Palace at Beijing National Stadium, also known as Bird’s Nest Stadium. The event was presented in collaboration with the team of famous Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou.
The team integrated the depth of Chinese culture with contemporary artistic presentation and international storytelling. It offered the public an immersive experience combining intangible cultural heritage and modern stage performance. Over two days, the concert attracted a total of 160,000 spectators.
The production featured a unique LED stage that could be rolled out like a carpet or scroll, displaying different visuals for each performance. A notable highlight was also a small butterfly-shaped stage that moved alongside the rolling main stage.
During part of the concert, EXO’s Lay used this butterfly-themed moving rig while playing the piano. On the first day of the stopover in Beijing, Lay performed the Chinese version of EXO’s song, “Miracle in December,” while sitting at the piano on the butterfly-shaped stage.
Lay Zhang’s performance further integrates Chinese aesthetics. At one point, he was performing a “flying” stunt while wearing an outfit reminiscent of traditional Chinese theater costumes.
Images and clips from the concert were shared on social media and fans took to the platform to talk about it. They were particularly impressed by the combination of elaborate set design, traditional Chinese elements and Lay’s dynamic performance. Many described the concert as a visually stunning and memorable experience. A fan commented:
“Damn brooo, nothing will gag me again. This is the pinnacle. Zhang Yixing, you’re crazy.”
Fans across various platforms couldn’t help but praise the singer for delivering what many described as one of the most visually spectacular and culturally significant concerts. The scale of the show, the fusion of traditional art with cutting-edge technology and EXO’s Lay’s attention to detail left the audience in awe.
Many applauded the artistic depth of the concert and the astonishing value of the production. Others were particularly fascinated by the creativity behind the stage setup. Beyond the visual spectacle, fans also celebrated EXO’s Lay’s long-standing commitment to representing Chinese culture on the world stage.
Fans of EXO’s Lay’s continued to express their respect and admiration for the singer’s artistry, vision, hard work and perseverance. Social media was filled with posts celebrating not only the magnitude of the event, but also the thoughtfulness, creativity, and cultural depth present in every aspect of the production. Fans praised him for staying true to his roots while continuing to push the boundaries of creativity, calling the performance a true testament to his legacy.
A fusion of tradition, technology and art: EXO’s Lay Zhang’s GRANDLINE 5 concert redefines cultural performance at Beijing’s Bird’s Nest
According to Chinese media TOM Entertainment, the GRANDLINE 5 concert on October 6 and 7 was the first crossover concert for Zhang Yimou’s team. The production team brought together traditional Chinese culture, innovative technology and EXO’s Lay’s iconic M-POP style.
They created a visually and musically immersive experience according to TOM Entertainment. The result was a show that not only celebrated cultural heritage, but also redefined how traditional elements can exist in a modern artistic setting.
At the heart of the production was a harmonious fusion of classic art forms and cutting-edge technology. The concert opened with a digital recreation of the hand scroll A thousand kilometers of rivers and mountains. This transformed the central stage of several thousand square meters into a three-dimensional living scroll.
EXO’s Lay continued his artistic quest to modernize traditional Chinese culture through his M-POP style. He also incorporated Chu cultural motifs in Lotus with Dunhuang-inspired images in Flying Apsaras.
Thanks to real-time rendering and AI imaging, the painting’s brushstrokes came to life, as reported by TOM Entertainment. This created the illusion that centuries of history were waking up before the public eye. This transformation went beyond replication as it reinterpreted ancient aesthetics through a modern lens.
On the theme of the 16th century Chinese novel The Monkey King sows trouble in paradise, the performance incorporated the visual concept of a “Painted Heavenly Palace”. It draws inspiration from traditional Chinese mythology while introducing new contemporary meaning.
The musical arrangements according to TOM Entertainment mix genres, fusing northern Shaanxi storytelling and electronic beats. Meanwhile, the multi-part choral style of the Chinese Dong ethnic group has been reinvented in an international soundscape. Traditional instruments such as the suona and erhu added authenticity according to the outlet, enhancing the fusion of classic and modern sounds.
Lay’s dedication to preserving culture was evident throughout the performance, as reported by TOM Entertainment. The concert showed how intangible cultural heritage can coexist with pop music, preserving the spirit of traditional art while giving it renewed vitality through modern interpretation.
The use of advanced technologies such as digital rendering, AI imaging, synchronized stage lighting and an immersive sound system helped create the concert environment. As TOM Entertainment noted, the audience became part of the painting, which moved with the music.
The event also attracted several high-profile participants, according to another Chinese media outlet Sina Finance. EXO member Sehun, Red Velvet’s Irene, The Next Top Bang’s Ding Chengxin, and singer Jike Junyi were all spotted in the audience supporting EXO’s Lay’s performance.
Edited by Adrija Chakraorty
