Impression Sanjie Liu, A must see show staged in Li River

Impression Sanjie Liu is an outdoor evening show in Yangshuo town, with natural mountains and water as the setting. It is directed by famous movie director Zhang Yimou and is performed by local villagers and fishermen, particularly local minority groups as Zhuang and Yao.

The performance is based on the legend of Guangxi song master Sanjie Liu, but not limited to her story. By using the image of traditional Chinese painting and rhythms of local songs, Impression Sanjie Liu shows the living situation, the folk customs, and especially the landscapes around Li River.
Impression Sanjie Liu stages in the actual Li River which stretches 2 km (1.25 miles). In the world’s largest natural theater, the mist, moonlight, together with 12 Karsts peaks and their inverted reflections in the river all creates a spectacular natural backdrop. The large-scaled lights system, special smoke-effect system and the overwhelming sound system in harmony with the natural landscape presents a visual feast to audients.
The valleys, the hills, the cool breeze and the gurgling streams are all elements contributing to the three-dimensional sound effect. Day by day, different weather offers different sceneries with the four seasons refreshing the performance of Impression Sanjie Liu as well, so you will have unique experience every time you watch it. This is really a new concept opera using nature as an integral part of its performers; hence its name - 'Human's Masterpiece Cooperated with the God'.

Liu Sanjie (Chinese: 刘三姐) was a Chinese folk music singer, who is the Liu family's third daughter, with an original name of Liu Shanhua. Liu is a legendary figure of Zhuang people in Guangxi and her songs were melodious and touching, therefore she was dubbed as the "Goddess of Singing". The earliest story about her can be found in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). Many legends and folk songs about her were created starting in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Liu Sanjie is said in one version to be a commoner girl born in 703 in Zhuang. She was said to be a wunderkind, able to compose impromptu songs at will. Her songs were touching and sonorous, so she was called the Song Fairy. She subsequent taught singing in the surrounding areas. Many people have come to compete with her in singing. Her talent, however, attracted jealousy from the local hoodlums, which resulted in her early death. The evil farmer Mo Huairen was said to make Liu Sanjie his slave girl and bribed officials to oppress her when she refused to do so. Despite various versions of Liu Sanjie's tales, for hundreds of years, Zhuang people have maintained their adoration for her.

Seven chapters of Impression Sanjie Liu

Prologue - Landscape Legend
As the classic and famous folk song rises, the beautiful legend of Sanjie Liu and her song gradually present in front of you as well as the twelve hills and a small fishing boat.

Part1: Red Impression-Folk Songs
On the water, many fishermen are rowing their bamboo rafts in a column. hang the large red silk in the sky and or upon the water. The red-colored fishing nets are waved on the river to forge a lively world, symbolizing the enthusiasm and praising the labors of the local people.

Part2: Green Impression-Garden
The producer brings you back to the ordinary of the people in Li River, the beautiful land wherer Ms Liu Sanjie was born – Washing women, shepherd boys, cooking smoke,  fishing rafts and the sunset.Which revealing the peaceful and happy life of the local people.

Part3: Blue Impression-Love Songs
Sanjie Liu singing love songs. Under the deep blue sky, and on the dark blue water, the performer of Sanjie is singing classical love songs.
This part tells the love story of Sanjie Liu and his lover, from their encounter, to love, to struggle against traditional pressure, to the escape from their hometown and live together finally, it shows the touching deep love of the two young people and the value of marriage at the past time in China.

Part4: Golden Impression-Fishing Lights
Hundreds of bamboo rafts with golden fishing lights are spreading all over the river. The rafts, golden fishing lights, the straw rain capes, the cormorants and the hills construct a perfect picture describing the simple existence of the people around the Li River.

Part5: Silver Impression-Performance Grand Ceremony
More than 200 Zhuang girls dressed in silver with silver adornments dancing on the watery stage to welcome visitors. Also entitled "Wonder of Li River Culture", this chapter shows the traditional ceremony in Sanjie's hometown according to the legend 

The Epilogue
The bamboo rafts are rowed again and get further and further away from the audiences while the pleasant songs of Sanjie keeps echoing among the hills and water. And the girls express their thanks by fair-sounding Zhuang folk songs.

Type: Outdoor Activity, Impression Show
Performing Time: 70 minutes
Tickets:￥680 /￥480 / ￥320 / ￥230 /￥190/ person;
Address:  No.39 Tianyuan Road, Yangshuo, Guilin, Guangxi
Show time: first show 20:00pm, second show 21:30pm in summer,
                   first show 19:30pm, second show 21:05pm in winter