There are dinner shows, and then there are dinner shows where the ceiling starts moving.
We went to Xuyan's Say Dunhuang, an elaborate dining-and-performance experience inspired by the ancient Silk Road city. The entire dining room doubles as the set, with elaborate scenery, moving elements, performers and an aerial performance happening around the tables.
The Restaurant Is Basically a Stage
There's a lot to look at. The sets are detailed, the costumes look great, and there are several themed rooms and photo spots to explore.
The aerial performance was one of the highlights, and performers occasionally appear around the dining area. It's the kind of dinner where you'll probably spend more time looking up than looking at your plate.
Come for the Show, Not the Food
The food is... fine.
Each dish is introduced through projections on the walls in both Chinese and English, and the menu is bilingual. But the production is clearly the main attraction here. If you're expecting a serious dining experience, you might be disappointed. If you're here for the spectacle, the food is perfectly adequate supporting cast.
Yes, You Can Dress Up
Traditional costumes, accessories and styling are available for an additional fee, with plenty of choices to pick from.
It's not necessary, but it definitely makes the experience more fun especially with all the photo-friendly spaces around the venue. And before anyone asks: is it cultural appropriation or cultural appreciation? We're going with "I paid for the costume, so technically I'm a paying customer.". If you're going to dress up, you might as well commit.
How Immersive Is It?
It's immersive in the sense that the entire room is part of the production and performers occasionally interact with diners. But you're not walking through the story or becoming a character yourself.
Most of the time, you're seated at your table watching the show. Think less you are in the story and more you have a very good seat inside the story.
Dunhuang Isn't the Only Option
The version we experienced wasSay Dunhuang, but Xuyan has other themed experiences at different locations, including When Tang Dynasty Whispers and All Nations Pay Homage. Each has a different historical theme and production, so there are options if Dunhuang isn't your thing.
The Verdict
The production is the main event. The sets are elaborate, the performances are entertaining, and there's clearly a lot of work behind the whole thing.
The food probably won't be what you remember the next day. The costumes, giant sets, aerial performances and general absurdity of having a theatrical spectacle happening around your dinner probably will.
If you want fine dining, look elsewhere. If you want an excuse to dress up, take an unreasonable number of photos and have a genuinely fun night out, Xuyan is worth checking out.
