A strange temple flanked by golden dragon statues stands in the back of the land. A parchment sign outside the temple reads "ZODIAC TRY-OUTS TODAY". What is this all about? Curiosity piqued, we head inside.
In the temple's entry hallway, majestic tapestries hang up on the wall. The tapestries tell a story: many years ago, a wise dragon by the name of Mingzhi De came up with the idea to have a member of the animal kingdom represent each year. He dubbed this idea the Zodiac. The problem that remained? How on Earth would he decide which animals to put on the Zodiac? Thus, he invited every animal in China to demonstrate their greatest abilities and talents for him, and he would narrow it down to twelve (since there are twelve months in a year). Eventually, a pair of doors on the right-hand side of the room swing open, and we are allowed entry into the main theater.
The octagonal theater is set up similarly to the Enchanted Tiki Room - long, oriental-looking benches wrapping around the room, all of them facing the center. The ceiling is decorated with beautiful mosaics dominated by various shades of red, yellow and green - these colors are considered lucky in China. The room is devoid of animatronics as we enter, but it won't stay that way for long. Once everyone is seated, a cast member presses a button that puts the show into motion. The lights dim, and the magic begins...
Utilizing the same technology at the Hatbox Ghost in the Haunted Mansion, Mingzhi De himself appears on a shelf hanging above the entry door. Flicking his tail and brandishing his claws, he's a very advanced animatronic. He welcomes us to his temple and explains to us what's going on - he's invited every animal in China to try out for a spot on the Zodiac. He'll need our help to narrow it down to twelve. If we like an animal's demonstration, he tells us, just clap. If we don't like it, don't clap. Sounds simple enough, right?
The first animal to audition is Xiao Zhu, a jovial pot-bellied pig who defies the stereotype that pigs are simple-minded slobs. He impresses Mingzhi De by solving complex math problems and answering difficult riddles. Next is the sly snake Shewen Shi, who performs a mind-boggling dance that involves contorting herself into various shapes and knots. Response to both from the audience is very positive.
A loud "-A-DOODLE-DOO!" makes it clear that Diantang Ji, a brash rooster, has entered the theater. He claims to have the ability to raise the sun. Mingzhi De is skeptical, but the rooster demonstrates this ability by performing a Kuaiban song called "Morning Arrives" - and sure enough, the room is suddenly bathed in sunlight!
Diantang Ji isn't the only animal with musical ability. A soft-spoken snub monkey, Hou, climbs down from the rafters and plays a soothing song on his bamboo flute. It isn't intended to be a lullaby, but upon hearing it, Mingzhi De falls asleep. Diantang Ji wakes him up with another "-A-DOODLE-DOO!".
Liliang, an ox, trots into the theater and claims to have "the strength of a million horses, give or take a hundred". Mingzhi De urges him to prove it. And so Liliang does by pulling a cart full of - believe it or not - Asian elephants. As he pulls, the elephants sing a rousing folk song called "Mighty, Mighty Liliang". Liliang doesn't notice a goat charging into the room and headbutting the cart, sending it, the elephants, and the ox flying out of the room. The goat introduces himself as Liu Huzi and claims that HE, not Liliang, is the strongest animal in all of China.
After Liu Huzi leaves, in come four chipper dogs - a Shar-Pei named Zhongcheng, a Chow Chow named Mohu, a Pekingese named Weixiao, and a Tibetian Terrier named Huangdi. They want to make a case for dogs, and what better way to do that than by howling in harmony like a furry barbershop quartet? Their rendition of Teresa Tang's "The Room Represents My Heart" moves Mingzhi De to tears. The dogs scamper out, and in comes the next auditioner, a black and white rabbit named Mofa who promises to amaze us with his magic tricks. He pulls himself out of a hat, duplicates himself, and conjures up a fantastic display of fireworks with a flick of his magic wand.
Mofa offers to saw a volunteer from the audience in half, but he's suddenly interrupted by a vain but lovely horse named Meili. She gallops around the theater boasting that the horse should be represented on the Zodiac because of their beauty and grace. Unimpressed, Mofa raises his wand and turns Meili into a donkey. Big mistake - she kicks him with her hind legs, sending him flying through the ceiling. Finally, a rat scurries into the theater and introduces himself as Dadan. He declares that he has tamed a ferocious bengal tiger, who appears in the center of the room, sitting on a podium. The tiger, whose name is Tiaowen, rolls his eyes but goes along with Dadan's act, rearing up when Dadan tells him to and roaring for the audience when prompted.
Mingzhi De declares that all of the auditioners are impressive, but he still has one spot on the Zodiac left to fill in. Hou suggests that he put a dragon on the Zodiac - after all, dragons are revered in China. To conclude the show, the animals launch lanterns in their likenesses into the air and sing a song about the Zodiac, "One For Each Year". Meili tells Mofa to turn her back into a horse. He raises his wand... and accidentally turns her into a bear (who, as a reference to a Disneyland animatronic show of Yesteryear, looks very much like a Country Bear). She chases him out of the room, the other animals trotting out after them. Mingzhi De thanks the audience for their help.
With that, the exit doors open, allowing guests to leave the theater and walk right into - you guessed it - a gift shop, where plush toys of the show's characters are all avaliable for purchase.