Spirit of superhero endures on stage

There are over 30,000 temples and guilds honoring Guan worldwide, with the legendary general's cultural influence spanning 168 countries and regions.

In Wu's eyes, Guan's defining characteristics are loyalty and integrity.

To portray Guan authentically, Wu visited thousands of temples, observed and recorded the details of statues depicting the general and incorporated the depictions into his performances.

He also read history books about the general and watched portrayals of him by older opera artists, drawing inspiration from them.

During a performance in Southeast Asia, Wu, performing as Guan, made a heart gesture to the audience during a curtain call.