Aranya was once a failed real estate project in China’s Hebei province, but since 2013 has transformed into a popular holiday destination and cultural hub replete with an art museum, cultural festivals and monumental architecture such as the seaside Lonely Library. Wang Tianye has overseen its cultural operations since 2016, including its highly regarded theatre festival, which has actor Zhang Ziyi and author Meng Jinghui as artistic directors this year.