The debut performance ended with prolonged applause. Rasina Uberoi Bajaj, managing director of the festival, said she had never seen such a ballet performance. "The stage design, lighting and costumes with oriental aesthetics are very impressive," she added.

For Chunhakarn, a graduate student at Chulalongkorn University and a longtime ballet learner, the performance stood out for its strong narrative. "It was the first time I had seen ballet combined with Chinese classical literature, and with English and Thai subtitles, it was easy to follow," she said.

All stage props were designed and produced in China and shipped to Bangkok ahead of the show. It took three days to complete the installation. The most eye-catching feature was a 12-meter-wide, 8.5-meter-high rotating backdrop at the center of the stage.

Featuring world-class artists and ensembles, Bangkok's 27th International Festival of Dance and Music runs from Sept 6 to Oct 15 this year.