A poster for the musical Nan Kong, which is set to take to the stage in Singapore. [Photo/WeChat account: quzhoufb]

China's first original musical centered on the culture of Southern Confucianism, called Nan Kong, is set to embark on its first international tour, visiting Singapore and Malaysia.

The musical tells the tale of Kong Zhu (1231–91), the 53rd direct descendant of Confucius, who relinquished his noble title and returned to Quzhou in East China's Zhejiang province to dedicate himself to promoting Confucian culture.

On Oct 24 and 25, Nan Kong will grace the stage at the Esplanade Theatre in Singapore, with tickets now available on the SISTIC website and official platforms. SISTIC is Singapore's largest ticketing agency.

The concert version of the musical will also be performed on Oct 27 and 28 at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology and the Petronas Philharmonic Hall in Malaysia, with ticket sales opening soon.

Since its debut, Nan Kong has been performed over 100 times across more than 40 cities in China, earning critical acclaim and numerous national arts awards.

The Singapore performance coincides with the 35th anniversary of China-Singapore diplomatic relations, marking a significant cultural exchange.

Through its powerful storytelling and historical resonance, Nan Kong aims to deepen ASEAN countries' understanding of Chinese traditional culture and to foster regional cultural dialogue and cooperation.