CHINA: One of Southwest China’s most celebrated cultural events combined music, tourism and large-scale live production this year as the Dianjiang Peony Culture Festival welcomed thousands of visitors with an expanded programme of activities, culminating in a major concert reinforced by a Martin Audio WPL Wavefront Precision sound system.

Held in Dianjiang County within Chongqing Municipality, the festival has more than 25 years of history and is centred around the region’s renowned landscape peonies, which have been associated with the area for nearly two millennia. Dating back to the Han Dynasty, Dianjiang’s wild peonies continue to attract visitors from across China, while the annual festival has evolved into a broader celebration of local culture, tourism and community engagement.

For 2026, the festival adopted the theme “New Charm of Chongqing – Wellness Dianjiang” and expanded its programme around a wider wellness and health-focused initiative. Running from March to May, the three-month event combined traditional flower viewing with a diverse schedule of sporting competitions, food festivals, cultural exhibitions and live entertainment. Among the highlights was the Peony Festival Concert, which brought together several of China’s most recognised music artists for a large-scale performance at Dianjiang County Stadium.

On April 12, performers Zhang Xinzhe, better known internationally as Jeff Chang, Yu Wenwen (Kelly Yu), Huang Pinyuan and Xianzi took to the stage before a large audience, with Martin Audio systems deployed throughout the venue to ensure comprehensive coverage and consistent audio performance.

The main PA system comprised 36 Martin Audio WPL Wavefront Precision line array loudspeakers, configured as two hangs of 18 cabinets each. Designed for large-scale touring and event applications, the WPL system provided primary coverage across the stadium audience area.

Additional outfill coverage was delivered by Martin Audio W8LC line array systems, with left and right hangs each consisting of 12 loudspeakers. To maintain coverage consistency throughout the venue, a further W8LC system was utilised for delay duties. Optimised using Martin Audio’s software tools, the delay configuration consisted of two flown hangs of 12 elements, supplemented by four ground-stacked array elements per side.

Front-row audience coverage was handled by a Martin Audio W8LM frontfill system. Featuring wide and consistent 120-degree dispersion characteristics, the frontfill deployment was distributed evenly across the stage edge using six stacks of two elements to ensure clear and balanced coverage for spectators closest to the performance area.

Low-frequency reinforcement was provided by 44 ground-stacked Martin Audio WS218X dual 18-inch ultra-long-excursion subwoofers. The substantial subwoofer deployment delivered the impact and energy required for a stadium-scale pop concert while supporting the performances of the headline artists throughout the event.

The comprehensive Martin Audio system design ensured consistent sound quality across the venue, supporting both the scale of the concert and the wider ambitions of the Dianjiang Peony Culture Festival as it continues to evolve into a major cultural tourism destination. As the event expands beyond its floral heritage to embrace sport, wellness, entertainment and cultural experiences, large-scale productions such as the Peony Festival Concert are playing an increasingly important role in attracting new audiences and enhancing the festival’s profile across the region.