A better show you can watch if you want to see China just before communism is called ‘Age of Awakening’. I am sure you can find an English sub for it.
It depicts the famine and poverty stricken masses, already oppressed by the nationalist royals, bourgeoisie and Japanese imperialists. People were selling their children on the streets, serfs and eunuchs.
When I think about Shen Yun, I think about a wall 🧱
Lolol didn’t watch it but saw that preview image and knew straight away 🤣