On December 25, 1954, the Sichuan–Xizang Highway and the Qinghai–Xizang Highway were officially opened to traffic, ushering in the era of road transportation in the Xizang Autonomous Region.

Together, the two routes laid the foundation for today's National Highway 318 (G318), which stretches more than 5,400 kilometers from Shanghai to Xizang. Its most iconic section, running from Chengdu to Lhasa, is widely regarded as a "must-drive journey in a lifetime" for its breathtaking scenery. Yet beyond the views, the road carries a deeper meaning shaped by sacrifice, devotion and perseverance.

The stories behind the road now find new expression on stage in the musical "This Life Must Drive On." Produced by the China Oriental Performing Arts Group, the production is set against the historical background of the Sichuan-Xizang Highway's construction in the early 1950s.

Rather than presenting history as a distant epic, the musical tells an intimate, fictional story spanning three generations of women.

Chinese singer Tan Weiwei stars as Lin Xiaojing, a woman raised by her grandmother, a military-affiliated journalist who followed the road-building teams and formed deep bonds with her comrades. Even after developing Alzheimer's in old age, the grandmother continues to write letters to those she once worked alongside, letters that become the emotional core of the story.

Believing that her grandmother's final wish is to return to Xizang, Lin decides to deliver the letters herself. The journey becomes both physical and emotional. Estranged from her own mother after years of separation, Lin gradually reconnects with her through the act of reading the letters aloud during their journey. As the past unfolds, mother and daughter come to understand not only a forgotten chapter of history but also the unspoken reasons behind their family's emotional distance.

The letters serve as a narrative bridge, bringing the road builders' experiences vividly to life. Characters like Wang Weiguo, portrayed by actor Zheng Qiyuan, represent the thousands who worked behind the scenes. A logistics team leader responsible for transporting supplies, Wang embodies the quiet determination shared by all involved in the project.

After studying historical photographs and black-and-white documentaries, Zheng says what moved him most was the builders' sincerity. "The purer something is," he notes, "the more deeply it can touch your heart."

Visually, the production avoids literal realism. The mountains on stage are not sculpted from rock-like structures but assembled from everyday objects such as tables, chairs and household items once used by the older generation.

"Every time you see or touch one of them, an emotional connection is formed," said Tan, who also serves as the musical's producer. "That, to me, is something very special and different."

Importantly, the musical does not dwell on hardship in a preachy way. Instead, it weaves contemporary family relationships together with historical experiences, allowing personal stories to open onto a broader collective memory.

"It was precisely because of their simple, unwavering belief that this road was completed, allowing people today to drive along it and enjoy the scenery," Zheng said. "That's why we need artistic expression to tell modern audiences these stories from the past."

Executive producer: Zhang Jingwen

Producer: Yang Sha

Director: Guo Meiping

Videographer: Wan Hui

Graphic designer: Liu Shaozhen