This is a nightly performance directed by Zhang Yimou (2008 Olympic fame) where a cast of more than 600 local fishermen, farmers and performers acted out a light and sound show that depicted the life story of “Liu San-Jie” or “Liu’s third sister”. The stage is actually the Li river with the multi-color karst mountains as the backdrop. It’s really impressive and my photo could not do justice to this spectacular performance. You have to see it to enjoy it.
Yangshuo is about 2-hour drive or 5-hour boat ride from Guilin. Air Asia now has direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Guilin and I could see many Malaysian tour groups there. This is a must visit part of China and although most of the tourist attractions in Guilin and Yangshuo are over-commercialized, its attraction lies on the natural wonder of this region rather than any man-made structures.
The performance is sub-divided into 5 Impressions that portray the legend of Liu San-Jie. They are the Red, Green, Blue, Gold and Silver.
The men and women will sing to each other via the Q&A approach.
RED Impression with Folk Songs - This section is based on the legend of Liu San-Jie. You could see fishermen with their rows of long red nets lining up the river. They communicate through songs which they sang as questions and answers performance.
The light and sound aspects of this show are really impressive.
GREEN Impression that portrays the garden. - In this section we were shown the sunset clouds, cooking smoke, shepherd boys, washing women, fishing raft that were the daily routine of the people living along the Li Jiang. This was also the typical fishing village scene where Liu San-Jie was brought up.
Silhouette of a fisherman against the new moon.
BLUE Impression with Love Songs. - They sang classical love songs composed with elements of their daily life such as river, mountain, wooden houses, the moon and even the demon on the moon!
A row of maidens along the Li river.
Maidens "shedding" their clothes along the Li river.
GOLDEN Impression with fishing lights. - This section were acted by 200+ fishermen and 'fisher-women' from around Yangshuo. This section is actually golden in color and not B/W. You could just imagine. You could see fishing lights, bamboo rafts, straw rain capes, and cormorants all combined to portray the actual working life of the inhabitants that dotted the villages along 'Li Jiang' or Li river.
SILVERY Impression that ended the performance with grand ceremony. - 200 girls from China's diverse ethnic groups dressed with silver lights garments to portray the celebration of 'Liu San-Jie' which are based on the legend of their forefathers.
Impressive photographs! I was told Impression Liu San Jie show is one of the things you have to see while you are in Yangshuo. Certainly Director Zhang Yi Mao is very succesful to stage such a wonderful show.