Whispering from the Rear Garden premiered in 2002. The stage setting is neither a regular indoor stage nor an open-air stage, but is in the Jiangnan style garden of the Lin's Garden in Banqiao. This is the first instance of Liyuan opera performing in a historical site. The ancient lyrical simplicity of Nanguan and the sophisticated choreography of Liyuan opera integrated subtly in this play. It tour in Paris and Nice in France in 2003. A stage-version in 2004 also took to the road.

The play has no particular plot; rather, it creates a truly romantic atmosphere. A talented scholar and a beautiful lady meet in a rear garden accompanied by the floating rhythms of a lute and xiao-flute. Pretty figures move gracefully on the terrace stage, singing and dancing in the garden.The first half of the play, Shadows of Dancers on the Terrace, consists of four acts, One Hears the Dujuan Singing, Straight into the Garden, Garden in Full Bloom and Spring Barely Remains. They feature the songs and dances of the chamber ladies. There are also four acts in the second half Dreams of Theater in the Pavilion, namely, Smiling in the Breeze, In Front of the Pavilion, Remembrance of a Rendezvous, Joyous Evening. They represent the songs and dances of the Tang Dynasty in its prime.