This aerial photo taken on October 3, 2023 shows tourists riding a boat in Lijiang, Guilin, southern China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Photo provided by Liu Zheng/Xinhua)
NANNING, May 14 (Xinhua News Agency) — As night falls, folk songs echo across the mist-shrouded karst hills, and small bamboo rafts float through Lijiang from afar.
This will be the prelude to the outdoor themed performance “Impression Liu Sanjie” to be staged in Yangshuo County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China.
Featuring more than 600 performers, the night show takes place against the backdrop of Yangshuo’s picturesque scenery and incorporates ethnic minority charms such as folk songs, dances and costumes to create a mesmerizing visual and auditory experience.
Liu Sanjie is a legendary Zhuang folk singer known for his extraordinary singing ability. In the 1960s, films about her became extremely popular throughout China, and Liu Sanjie became a household name at the time and now represents the rich ethnic culture of Guangxi.
Through this extraordinary character, performances accompanied by melodious folk songs reveal the daily life of local people, firmly rooted in ethnic culture.
In contrast to the traditional stage, here the audience is seated in the natural surroundings of the tranquil 2km stretch of Lijiang, with 12 mountains in the background. Therefore, the performance’s 3D acoustics are enhanced by natural elements, providing a unique experience influenced by weather and seasons.
“The organized dances and stories pale in comparison to the majesty of the scenery, which evokes awe of the natural environment,” said Wang Chaoge, one of the directors of the water show. He added that it has a certain charm. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of city life, the everyday scenes of the countryside awaken in the audience a nostalgic longing for one’s roots and a connection to the past.
Since its premiere in 2004, “Impression Liu Sanjie” has been performed more than 8,000 times, with a cumulative audience of 20 million people and box office revenue of over 2.8 billion yuan (approximately 394 million US dollars).
British audience member Jasper Wilkins said, “I was very surprised by the diversity of the gorgeous performances, and was able to learn about the culture and history of the Zhuang people.”
The artistic integration of natural landscape and ethnic culture has brought many changes to the lives of local people.
Fisherman Xie Chengjun, who attended the performance in 2014, said he has a particularly deep love for the sea here.
“During the day, we row rafts in Lijiang for tourists, and at night we perform here. The local mountains and rivers have nurtured us,” Xie said.
During this year’s May Day holiday, the “Impression Liu Sanjie” show was held nine times, with 26,850 visitors and an income of about 4.3 million yuan. ■
