Yangshuo Impression Sanjie Liu

Impression Sanjie Liu was choreographed by Zhang Yimou, one of the most notable Chinese film directors, who had also directed the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.

This is a must-see night show for those who spend the night in Yangshuo. The performance is spectacular, combining music and light, ethnic songs and dances, and using the Li River and surrounding karst mountains as the stage and backdrop.

Impression Sanjie Liu lasts 1 hour once or twice per night, and could be adjusted due to seasonal, weather, and other factors. The performance venue is an open-air space and requires a half-hour walk from West Street (approximately 10 minutes by electric scooter).

Content Preview

• What Should I Expect From Impression Sanjie Liu
• Is Impression Sanjie Liu Suitable for Me?
• Performance Schedule of Impression Sanjie Liu
• How to Choose the Seat
• How to Get There and Buy Tickets?
• The Legend of Sanjie Liu
• Sanjie Liu, the Movie
• Worship of Sanjie Liu

What Should I Expect From Impression Sanjie Liu

Impression Sanjie Liu is a creative artistic conception of harmony between man and nature. The whole performance is composed of 7 scenes, namely:

• The Prelude — the Legend of the Scenery,
• Red Impression — Folk Songs About the Labor and Sweat of the People,
• Green Impression — Long-Gone Childhood and Homeland,
• Golden Impression — Fishing Lights Lit the Night Sky,
• Blue Impression — Love Songs About Crushes and Lovers,
• Silver Impression — Performance of the Grand Ceremony,
• The Epilogue — A Carol of Heaven and Earth.

In the grand Red Impression scene, the Li River is dotted with fishing lights, and hundreds of actors and actresses sing an antiphony.

The most impressive scene is Silver Impression, which reflects a scene of folk celebrations. 200 ethnic minority girls in festive costumes perform on the watery stage, welcoming visitors from all corners of the world.

In The Epilogue, the fishing rafts depart and the lights are dimmed, and the song of Liu Sanjie echoes around the hills.

Is Impression Sanjie Liu Suitable for Me?

Impression Sanjie Liu is performed in Mandarin Chinese and local dialect, and there are no Chinese or English subtitles for the audience to understand.

Watching the show may require some artistic appreciation. You probably do not understand the meaning of the words very well, but the lighting of the performance and the emotions of the actors' lines may give you a worthwhile experience.

For families with children, Impression Sanjie Liu might not be ideal, as the one-hour show is in Chinese and could be difficult for kids to follow. Relatively, Guilin Eternal Love(桂林千古情) in Yangshuo may suit you more with an air-conditioned venue and flash mob performances.

Performance Schedule of Impression Sanjie Liu

Showing: (May be closed in January and February)

• During weekdays from Monday to Friday: 8:00 pm
• During weekends and holidays: 7:30 pm; 9:05 pm

Since Impression of Sanjie Liu is an outdoor performance, the weather can have a certain impact on the experience. The best season to attend the show is autumn (September-November), when there is less rainfall and cooler evenings.

Spring (March-May) may bring occasional rains. In case of light rain, disposable rain ponchos will be provided. If there's heavy rain or a storm, the performance will be canceled and fully refunded.

Summer (June-August) performances require some additional considerations. Mosquito protection is recommended, and it would be crowded, with more children. This can sometimes result in a noisier environment. If you prefer a quieter viewing experience, we recommend booking A section seats, or opting for the later evening show, which tends to have fewer people and a better experience.

Winter (December-February) is not recommended. Evenings in Guilin can get quite cold, so be sure to wear warm, windproof clothing if attending during this season. As an alternative, you can consider watching the Legend of Eternal Love performance.

* Please note: Impression of Sanjie Liu is normally closed during January and February.

How to Choose the Seat

• A1 Zone: Best views, sheltered seats, delicate refreshments, most expensive.
• A2 Zone: Great side views, sheltered seats, delicate refreshments, alternative choice of A1.
• B1 Zone: Great central and higher views, rattan chairs, the most cost-effective choice.
• B2 Zone: Good views, random seats, first choice for disabilities.
• C Zone: Budget choice, front but side views, poor experience, and not recommended.

When it comes to choosing seats, the B2-class could be the most cost-effective choice. During the rainy season in Guilin from May to August, we suggest choosing seats in the A Zone to avoid sudden rains and ensure your experience.

There is barrier-free access to the venue, but it does not reach every corner of it. For instance, you can push your wheelchair to get front seats in the B2 and C Zone via the barrier-free passage, but higher seats in B2, B1, and beyond require walking.

While we normally would arrange B1-class for our clients to ensure better experiences, we could reserve front seats in the B2 Zone for you if there is a mobility issue.

To avoid crowds, it would be better to arrive at the venue an hour earlier. Since all seating is open air except seats in the A Zone, you may need insect repellent to keep away nighttime bugs, or a rain cape for light rains (umbrellas are prohibited).

How to Get There and Buy Tickets?

Location: No. 1 Tianyuan Road, Yangshuo County, Guilin, China Lijiang Landscape Theater

Transportation:

• Walking: About 25 minutes from Yangshuo West Street.
• Electric scooters: About 10 minutes from West Street.
• Hotel shuttle: Some hotels in Yangshuo may provide one-way shuttle service. Please consult and book in advance.

You can reserve seats online up to one month in advance, and we suggest booking at least three days in advance to ensure your seat.

However, we don't recommend that you buy tickets offline, as you may need to queue up, and the staff's limited English makes it more difficult. It would be better to purchase tickets online, seek help from local hotel staff, or simply travel with us and let us deal with all the troubles.

It'd be better to arrive at the venue an hour earlier to avoid crowds. Please note that the performance time and number of performances may change. Please call +86-773-8818008 in advance for specific performance arrangements. Or you can simply travel with us to book a trip to Yangshuo: 3-Day The Essence of Guilin.

The Legend of Sanjie Liu

Sanjie Liu(刘三姐 /lyoh san-jyeah/ "the Third Liu Daughter") is a legendary Zhuang girl with the ability to sing a reply that no one could match. She has been dubbed the Song Fairy because of this seemingly supernatural gift, and her statue features in the annual Zhuang Song Festival.

Sanjie Liu was, as the story goes, the third-born daughter of a man surnamed Liu, who lived centuries ago(in the Tang Dynasty: 618–907) in Guangxi Province. She became known for her singing as various dignified local oppressors came to her village, but were defeated and speechless by her tuneful and witty songs.

The legend goes that she was wooed by a boy named A Niu (阿牛 /ah-nyoh/ "Bull"), who sang replies to her songs under the Big Banyan Tree in Yangshuo County. 

As is the Zhuang custom, Sanjie Liu gave A Niu an embroidered ball to signify her willingness, and he could pursue her. A Niu promptly tossed the ball across the river and high onto a rock on the other side, where nobody could reach it, to make it stay as an everlasting reminder of their love.

This love story has a happy ending, as most fairy tales do: the two singing villagers fell in love and lived happily ever after.

Sanjie Liu, the Movie

A 1960s movie musical, which has been televised and shown all over China, first made famous the legend of Liu Sanjie. It remains as popular as ever, especially among the minorities of the south, whose fairytale heroine she is. This, other local minority singing, and the acclaimed Yangshuo landscape are probably what inspired Zhang Yimou's production.

Worship of Sanjie Liu

Local idol and ancestor worship have, in some places, incorporated this legendary girl and her image in their offerings of incense, food, drink, bowing and prayer, and she has assumed godlike status. She is generally idolized by the minorities for embodying the dignity of the simple peasant, a charming victory over tyranny, and for their love of singing and a good romance.

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