The Chinese musical production Soul Ferry will be staged at Tianqiao Performing Arts Center from Nov 27 to 29.

Based on the popular fantasy-romance series The Ferry Man, which premiered in 2014 online and has been adapted into a TV series for three seasons, the musical centers on Xia Dongqing, who grew up in an orphanage and has the ability to see ghosts. Xia and his friends Zhao Li and Wang Xiaoya help the souls of the dead fulfill their last wishes.

The three seasons of the TV series, based on the web novel of the same name written by Xiao Jixiangtian, have attracted 500 million hits and gained a large fanbase. Steampunk elements like mirrors and gear wheels are mixed into the musical, according to stage designer Wang Lifeng.

Directed by Ma Da, the musical will feature Yu Yi in the leading role of Zhao Li. Yu also played the leading role in The Ferry Man.

After its premiere in Beijing, the musical will be staged in Shanghai from Dec 4 to 6 and in Guangzhou from Dec 11 to 13. A nationwide tour will follow and bring the musical to more Chinese cities, including Nanchang of Jiangxi province, Xiamen of Fujian province and Chengdu of Sichuan province.