Impression Lijiang is currently the only large-scale open-air performance in China given during the day. Using Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as stage background, it shows the ancient Dongba culture of Lijiang, the long history of the ancient tea-horse road and the folk customs of the local Naxi people in forms of songs and dances.
Basic Facts of Impression Lijiang
Type: Song and Dance Performance
Directors: Zhang Yimou, the director of the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, together with Wang Chaoge and Fan Yue
Actors: Local Lijiang villagers of over 10 ethnic minorities
Theater: Blue Moon Valley, Ganhaizi, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, whose altitude is 3,100 meters (3,400 yards)
Size of the Theater: The theater can accommodate more than 2,800 people
Length of Performance: 65-70 minutes
A Large-Scale Open-air Song and Dance Performance During the Day
Impression Lijiang is performed in daytime, using the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as its stage background. Wind, rain, snow, clouds, fog, and sunshine are all stage designs. The 12-meter-high stage is made of the red sandstone that symbolizes the red clay of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau where Lijiang is located in. More than 100 horses and 500 non-professional peasant actors with dark skin who are from 16 local villages and over 10 ethnic minorities give their best performance. They use unique movements and original songs to exemplify their culture, history and customs.
What Does Impression Lijiang Tell About
Lijiang Impression Show uses Lijiang as the plot background, folk culture as the theme, and local villagers as the actors. It has a total of six parts. The first two parts are a dialogue with the mountain, which shows people from all directions the close relationship between human beings and nature. The middle two parts are a dialogue with life by showing people the experiences of climbing the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and traveling to Lijiang Old Town. The last two parts are a dialogue with the ancestors. In the dialogue, you can find that there is always a sacred kingdom in the hearts of Naxi people throughout the ages.
Kind Reminders:
1. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain entrance fee, and the cable car and eco-car expenses are not included in Impression Lijiang’s performance tickets. The entrance fee is CNY 130 and the cable car and eco-car costs a total of CNY 200.
2. The performance theater is 3,100 meters above sea level. In order to avoid accidents, visitors with heart disease, altitude sickness and other visitors who are not suitable to reach high-altitude places should consider carefully before purchasing tickets.
3. The altitude of the theater is too high and the temperature is low. If necessary, you can buy winter clothes and oxygen bottles at the foot of the mountain in advance.
How to Get to Impression Lijiang Theater
Take the bus line 17 or hire a local car from Lijiang Old Town to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The cost of hiring a car is about CNY400-500 a day and CNY 100-200 for a single trip; you can share a car with others to save money. After, you can take the cable car or eco-car to the theater in Blue Moon Valley.
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