Wearing a full suit of armor and with a sword dangling by his side, Zhang Yanfeng, 28, is not your typical theme park performer.

To portray the character of General Guan Yu — one of the most revered figures in Chinese history whose life has been immortalized in numerous literary works — he dons armor weighing over 40 kilograms for each performance at Wansuishan Martial Arts City, a popular theme park in Kaifeng, Henan province. His helmet alone weighs 7 kg.

But for Zhang it's all worth it because his work as an NPC (nonplayer character) performer brings to life characters from the pages of history and literature for adoring fans.

"The weight of the armor forces me to stay grounded," Zhang noted. "It's as if I am truly embodying the spirit of an ancient general."

Immersive NPC performances are one of the fastest-growing sectors in China's tourism industry, often drawing in repeat visitors to scenic spots and theme parks.

Wu Guoping, a deputy to the National People's Congress, recently proposed official recognition of NPC performers as a new profession. Wu said the rise of such performers reflects a broader transformation within China's cultural tourism industry.

"I believe the rise of NPCs as professionals is a positive development for both the industry and the preservation of traditional culture," Zhang said.

"The standards are higher now. It's not just about wearing a costume; it's about living the role. We are responsible for keeping these ancient stories alive, not just for ourselves, but for the visitors who come here looking for something more."

Towering figures

Another role Zhang plays is Guan's descendant, Guan Sheng, another hero from the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127).

He is the only actor to embody these two towering figures, a feat that has earned him a devoted following among the visitors to the popular theme park, which celebrates the martial arts legends of Chinese history.

Born and raised in Luoyang, Henan province, a city famous for its ancient history, Zhang was drawn to traditional Chinese culture from a young age.

He trained in martial arts performance at school, and began his career at some of China's most famous historical sites before starting work at Wansuishan Martial Arts City more than a year ago.

"It was the perfect place to merge my passion for wuxia — the traditional genre of martial arts fiction — with real-world performances," he said. "Kaifeng, the former capital of the Northern Song Dynasty, is where I feel most connected to the characters I portray."

Zhang's two primary roles, Guan Yu and Guan Sheng, are not merely costumes he wears, but identities to inhabit.

When some visitors first encounter Zhang in his armor, they assume he is just another lifeless statue, he said, but as they draw closer, they realize he is flesh and blood. Their surprise is palpable, with visitors sometimes gasping in astonishment as he stirs, moves, or speaks.

"For me, it's about creating an experience that no digital screen or online video can replicate. When a person comes all the way to see Guan Yu, I owe it to them to make it unforgettable," he said.

His performances are also interactive. When visitors ask questions or request photos, Zhang is always ready to oblige.

The term NPC is derived from a character in a video game or simulation that is not controlled by the player. NPCs are typically pre-programmed with specific behaviors, dialogues, and actions, and exist to interact with players in the game world to make the experience more immersive and dynamic.

In recent years, theme parks in China, such as Shanghai Disneyland and Happy Valley, have increasingly incorporated NPCs into their attractions. The NPCs are often actors or performers who act out specific roles as part of a larger, interactive experience for visitors.

Wangpo Matchmaking, a classic show at Wansuishan Martial Arts City, leads lively dating games with tourists in Kaifeng. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Emotional connection

For decades, Chinese scenic spots relied on fixed, scripted shows. Visitors watched and took photos from a distance. But today's tourists crave something different — they want interaction and deep emotional immersion.

At Wansuishan Martial Arts City there are more than 2,000 NPCs, most of whom age 20 to 35. Many of them come from arts backgrounds, bringing passion and personality to the job, said Wang Xueying, brand manager of Wansuishan Martial Arts City.

Jia Chenlu, 32, plays the lively martial arts character Sun Erniang from the classical novel Water Margin. With over a decade of hosting experience, she acts as a storyteller and "emotional guide" for the audience, she said.

"The work I do as Sun Erniang is very much like being a character-based host," Jia said. "It's all about controlling the scene, interacting with the audience, improvising, and creating a seamless experience. Everything I've learned on stage, from handling a crowd to designing a flow, directly translates into this job."

With a live performance background, Jia is not shy in front of an audience. Her warmth and approachability come through in every interaction, as she brings a human touch to her character.

"It's not just about acting; it's about connecting," she said. "People come here to escape from the stress of their everyday lives, and we, as NPCs, have the chance to make their visit meaningful. A smile, a warm word, a photo — it can make all the difference. Sometimes, it's the small things that leave the biggest impression."

Jia believes NPCs offer something more valuable than just entertainment — they offer "emotional connection".

"Many people harbor a wuxia dream in their hearts, and we give them a little bit of that dream, a taste of the jianghu (the martial arts world). If we can make them happy, even for a brief moment, then our job has meaning," she noted.

As an anchor for the show, her earnings are tied to both her visibility and the impact of her performances, with the salary ranging from 8,000 yuan ($1,180) to 30,000 yuan a month depending on the popularity of the show and the audience's response.

"The more effort you put in, the more you can earn," she said. "It's performance-based, so there's no limit to how much you can make."

However, being the core performer in the show, Jia has no backup. She manages to take off five days a month, and typically avoids taking time off at weekends when visitor numbers are at their peak. On the rare occasions when she does take a day off, the Sun Erniang show is paused, with visitors informed in advance.

"It's a commitment," Jia said. "But when you're part of a character that means something to so many people, you understand why you do it. It's more than just a job — it's about creating moments that matter."

Tourists watch the show of The Heavenly Maiden Scatters Flowers at Millennium City Park in July. GENG FEIFEI/CHINA DAILY

A 'beautiful escape'

Liu Ping, a 36-year-old nurse, traveled from Zhengzhou, Henan, with her best friend to catch the performances at Wansuishan Martial Arts City.

"Usually, I'm deeply caught up in the grind of work, constantly feeling mentally and physically exhausted — like a screw that just keeps turning without end. I've slowly lost myself, and even my inner sense of purpose," said Liu, who said she lives a hectic life.

"But here, I can temporarily put my phone down and immerse myself in this little world of martial arts. Through my interactions with the NPCs, I feel like I'm slowly reconnecting with the version of myself I haven't seen in a while, shedding the fatigue and distractions. It's a healing, freeing experience that feels like a beautiful escape."

Millennium City Park in Kaifeng, is a large-scale historical cultural park featuring Song culture, built according to the famous Riverside Scene in the Qingming Festival painting.

Part of its allure is its reimagining of the bustling Northern Song Dynasty market scene.

The NPC players at the park portray ordinary market figures from the period such as beggars, monks, and street vendors, and engage with visitors in spontaneous, immersive interactions, said Xing Xiaoyue, marketing manager at the venue.

These characters don't have fixed names, reflecting the anonymity of their counterparts in the painting. Visitors can take part in traditional games, like "spot the difference" or "playing cards", while NPCs guide them through the experience, making the past come alive.

A horseback fight is performed at the park. [Photo provided to China Daily]

One of the park's highlights is the Great Song Royal Garden, which brings ancient poets like Su Shi, and Li Qingzhao, into the fold. These players have clearly defined personas and are integrated into themed performances.

To further deepen the interactive experience, visitors can take on the role of different characters such as a beggar, general, or scholar, by receiving a "role recruitment order" and donning costumes.

This allows them to interact with the NPCs and unlock dialogue and storylines. It's a shift from being mere spectators to becoming active participants in the unfolding drama.

"I've been to many similar theme parks in China, but Millennium City Park holds a special place for me," said one visitor, schoolteacher Chen Shuo.

"In our fourth-grade textbook, there's a lesson dedicated to Along the River During the Qingming Festival. When teaching the kids, I usually rely on online images or videos to explain it, but the pictures in the book always feel static and distant. This time, visiting the park for real, it was like turning the words in the textbook into a living, breathing world right in front of me."

Chen Nan, a professor at Henan University's School of Culture and Tourism, said NPCs in theme parks have evolved from background characters to main attractions because tourists now seek immersive, interactive experiences, not just sightseeing. They want to participate, engage, and share. NPCs act as bridges, turning static environments into dynamic, emotional experiences, he said.

"To truly stand out, successful NPCs must have a deep understanding of history and culture, strong improvisational skills, and excellent service. In historical theme parks, NPCs are not just performers — they're 'time travelers' who help bring history to life in an immersive and interactive way," he said.

But for Zhang, his work is about more than just historical accuracy — it's about the connection between the past and present, between legend and reality. "The world moves faster now," he noted, gesturing toward the busy line of visitors streaming past him.

"Everyone is rushing from one thing to the next. But when they step into this world, they slow down. They feel a sense of honor, a sense of adventure. It's a place where they can leave behind the pressures of modern life."

It's a sentiment shared by many visitors, who come not only to see the grand performances but to reconnect with a "dream" they may not realize they've been missing.

Zhang said playing these legendary characters offers a sense of purpose. He is not simply performing; he is preserving something ancient and vital.

"The role of NPCs is more important than ever. In a world where history can feel distant, we bring it close, make it tangible," he said with pride. "We are the keepers of stories that would otherwise fade into memory."

活态传承让千年文脉焕发新生

演员化身文史人物NPC，吸引大批游客慕名前来

28岁的张岩峰身披全套铠甲，佩剑悬于腰侧，与寻常主题公园演员截然不同。

在河南开封人气爆棚的万岁山武侠城，为演绎关羽这一角色——中国历史上最受尊崇的人物之一，其生平已被无数文学作品传颂千古，他每场演出都要披挂重达40余公斤的铠甲，单是头盔便有7公斤之重。然而对张岩峰而言，这一切付出皆值得。作为一名NPC（非玩家角色）演员，他将典籍中的历史人物从纸页间唤醒，以鲜活之姿迎接慕名而来的八方游客。

“铠甲的重量时刻令我沉下心来，”张岩峰说道，“仿佛真能体悟到古代武将的风骨。”

沉浸式NPC演绎正在成为国内旅游业增速最为迅猛的新业态之一，持续吸引着游客重返各大景区与主题乐园。全国人大代表吴国平近日提议，将NPC演员正式纳入国家认定的新职业。吴国平表示，这类从业者的兴起，折射出中国文旅产业正在经历着深层次的变革。

千古英豪

“这里是可以把我对武侠的热爱与实景表演完美融合的理想之地。”他说，“开封曾为北宋都城，身处此地，我能真切感受到自己与所演绎人物之间那种跨越时空的联结。”

于张岩峰而言，关羽与关胜绝非两套戏服，而是需要全身心代入的角色。

他介绍，不少游客初见身披重甲的他，会误以为只是一尊静态雕塑；待走近后，才发觉眼前是活生生的人。当他移步、抬手或开口言语时，游客们常常忍不住发出惊叹，那份惊喜之情溢于言表。“我要打造的是电子屏幕与线上视频无法复刻的体验。游客千里迢迢前来，只为见‘关羽'一面，我理应带给他们一段难以忘怀的相遇。”

他的表演亦十分注重互动。每当游客上前问询或请求合影，他总是欣然应允。

NPC一词源自电子游戏，指代不受玩家操控的角色。这类角色通常被预设了特定的行为模式、台词与动作，在游戏世界中与玩家互动，以营造更具沉浸感、更为生动鲜活的体验。

近年来，上海迪士尼、欢乐谷等国内主题乐园纷纷在游乐项目中增设NPC角色。这些NPC多由专业演员扮演，依托完整的互动叙事场景，为游客带来深度沉浸的体验。

情感共鸣

数十年来，国内景区演出多是固定流程、剧本一成不变的程式化表演。游客只能远观拍照，无法走近。然而，当下的游客早已不再满足于此——他们渴望互动，追求深度的情感沉浸

万岁山武侠城品牌负责人王雪莹介绍，园区现有NPC演员2000余名，年龄大多集中在20至35岁。不少从业者具备艺术专业背景，为这份工作注入了饱满的热情与鲜明的个性。

32岁的贾晨露演绎古典名著《水浒传》中性格爽朗的江湖人物孙二娘。拥有十余年舞台主持经验的她坦言，自己既是故事讲述者，也是观众的“情感导师”。

“扮演孙二娘，本质上是依托角色进行主持。”贾晨露说，“整场表演需要把控现场节奏、与游客互动、临场应变，打造连贯流畅的沉浸式体验。过往舞台上学到的控场技巧、流程设计思路，都能直接运用到这项工作中。”

凭借现场演出的深厚功底，贾晨露在观众面前从容大方。每一次互动，她都展现出亲和热忱，赋予角色鲜活的人情味。

“这不单单是表演，核心在于建立联结。”她表示，“游客来到这里，是为了摆脱日常压力。身为NPC，我们希望让他们的旅程更有意义。一个微笑、一句暖心话语、一张合影，都能带来截然不同的感受。正是这些瞬间令人难忘。”

在贾晨露看来，NPC所能提供的价值不止娱乐，更在于提供情感共鸣。

“许多人心中都藏着一个武侠梦，而我们能帮他们圆上一小段江湖遐想。哪怕只是短暂收获快乐，这份工作便拥有了意义。”她说道。

作为节目核心演绎者，她的收入与曝光度、演出效果直接挂钩。根据节目热度与游客反馈，月收入区间在8000元（约合1180美元）至30000元不等。

“付出越多，收获越多。薪酬实行绩效机制，收入上不封顶。”

但作为节目的灵魂人物，贾晨露没有替补。她每月仅能休息五天，且尽量避免在客流高峰的周末请假。难得休班时，“孙二娘”的演出便只能暂停，园区会提前告知游客。

“这份职业意味着一份坚守。”贾晨露说，“当你演绎的角色被无数人喜爱，便能理解这份坚持的意义。这早已超越了一份普通工作——我们在创造值得被铭记的动人时刻。”

一场“美丽的逃离”

36岁的护士刘萍专程与好友从河南郑州赶来，只为赴万岁山武侠城这场沉浸之约。

“平日里，我深陷日复一日的工作循环，身心俱疲，仿佛一枚永不停转的螺丝钉。我渐渐在忙碌中迷失了自我，内心也失去了方向。”刘萍坦言自己的生活十分忙碌。

“但来到这里，我可以暂时放下手机，沉浸在这片武侠天地之中。和NPC互动的过程里，我仿佛重新遇见久违的自己，卸下疲惫与纷扰。这段治愈又自在的体验，恰似一场美好的逃离。”

开封清明上河园是一座以宋文化为主题的大型历史文化园区，依照传世名画《清明上河图》原貌营建而成。园区一大特色，便是生动还原繁华热闹的北宋市井图景。

清明上河园营销经理邢潇月介绍，园内NPC演员会扮演乞丐、僧人、街边小贩等北宋市井中的寻常人物，与游客展开即兴的沉浸式互动。这些角色没有固定姓名，正呼应了画卷中那些无名无姓的市井众生。游客可以参与“找不同”、纸牌博弈等传统游艺项目，由NPC全程引导体验，让尘封的历史在欢声笑语中焕发生机。

园区另一大亮点是大宋皇家园林板块，苏轼、李清照等古代文人雅士化身NPC亮相于此。这些角色拥有鲜明而完整的人物设定，深度融入各类主题演绎之中。

为进一步丰富互动层次，游客还可领取“角色招募令”，换上古装，亲身扮演乞丐、武将、书生等不同身份。由此，游客得以与NPC自由交流，解锁专属对白与剧情支线，从单纯的旁观者转变为剧情中的亲历者。

“国内不少同类主题乐园我都去过，但清明上河园在我心中有着独特分量。”教师陈硕说道。

“四年级课本中有专门讲解《清明上河图》的篇目。平日里授课，我只能借助网络图片和视频进行讲解，书本上的画卷始终是静止而遥远的。这次亲临园区，仿佛课本上的文字化作鲜活立体的世界，真切展现在眼前。”

河南大学文化旅游学院的陈楠教授表示，随着游客不再满足于走马观花式的观光，转而追求沉浸式互动体验，主题乐园中的NPC已从背景配角跃升为核心看点。游客渴望参与其中、互动交流、分享感受。而NPC搭建起沟通的桥梁，让静态的场景转化为富有感染力的动态体验。

他指出：“要想真正脱颖而出，一名优秀的NPC必须具备深厚的文史素养、出色的临场应变能力，以及敏锐的服务意识。在历史主题园区中，NPC不只是演员，更是‘时空行者’，他们以沉浸式互动的方式让历史活起来。”

而在张岩峰看来，他的工作不止追求史实还原，更重在搭建古代与现代、传说与现实之间的纽带。他望着络绎不绝的游人感慨：“如今的时代，一切都太快了。所有人步履匆匆，奔波不休。但踏入这片天地，人们愿意放慢脚步，去感受那份豪情与江湖意趣。这里是他们暂时卸下现代生活重压的避风港。”

许多游客有着同样的感受。他们前来，不只是观赏恢弘演出，更是追寻那份潜藏心底、连自己都未曾察觉的梦想。

张岩峰在演绎这些传奇人物的过程中，找到了自身的价值与使命感。他所做的不仅仅是表演，更是在守护某种古老而鲜活的东西。

“如今，NPC承载着愈发重要的时代意义。当历史显得遥不可及，我们拉近大众与历史的距离，让文化变得可触可感。”他满怀自豪地说，“我们是故事的守护者，不让这些往事在时光中渐渐湮没。”