The deep ravines of Tianmen Mountain are the setting for the Fox Fairy night show.Linking futuristic technology to the scenic grandeur of the Zhangjiajie mountains, the Tianmen Fox Fairy Show is a superb performance that transports the audience into a dream world. Imagine the thrill of sitting in the open and watching a live performance with a canyon as a stage and high mountains and peaks as the backdrop!
The Legend of the Fox Fairy
The story on which the show is based originates from a Hunan Province Traditional Opera "Liuhui Cutting Firewood", the love story of a fox fairy and a human. The beautiful, kindhearted fairy is married to the king of the fox empire but is leading an unhappy life. She falls in love with a poor woodcutter and uses her magical power to look like a human. She yearns to marry the woodcutter and lead a human life. However, there are many hurdles to this marriage.
Amidst thrilling performances, the love-story unwinds showing the forces of good and evil, the challenges of endurance and perseverance, of true love and deceit. The thrill and entertainment take the audience through many moving scenes that bring waves of tears, smiles, and laughter.
The Show
The show brings the traditional legend to life using the combined effect of technology and scenic beauty, of art and culture and of skill and creativity. The unique backdrop of Tianmen Mountain, the scintillating lights and the performances of the actors make the Tianmen Fox Fairy Show an unparalleled open air show.
The 90-minute show features hundreds of actors and singers in marvelous costumes displaying their acting and singing skills. The music, song, dance, and drama coupled with the specially designed visual effects create spellbound scenes that keep the audience in awe. Ethnic costumes and a strong element of the folk traditions of the Tujia and Miao ethnic groups, magic, and acrobatics all add to the thrill of the performances.
The Venue
The show takes place at the foot of Tianmen Mountain. The venue has 2,800 seats. The auditorium and main stage have an area of 19,880 square meters with the central panoramic stage that is made of glass steel covering an area of 10,000 square meters, one of the largest of such structures in the world.
The Lighting Effects
The lighting effects on the transparent panoramic stage are amazing. Special lights have been installed from the top of the mountain right down to the valley, spanning a distance of about one kilometer. The colorful lights from various angles create astonishing visual effects.
Translation
Even though the show is in Mandarin, there are big screens on the left and right of the stage that show Chinese subtitles with translations in English, Korean, and Japanese.
The Production Team
The beauty of the show, its ingenuity, and the creativity involved in the production can be attributed to the team of the famous director Yuan Meishuai, founder of Live Performances in China, and music director Tan Dun, a world-famous Chinese composer and winner of the Oscar and Grammy awards.
Travel Essentials
- Chinese name: 天门狐仙 Tianmen Huxian /tyen-mnn hoo-hsyen/ 'Heaven Door Fox Fairy'
- Venue: Tianmen Mountain Valley Grand Theatre
- Duration: 100 minutes
- Timing: 20:10 to 21:50 (daily)
- Ticket: 238 to 888 RMB, according to the seat
Transportation: Take a taxi or bus 4, 5, 6, or 10 (1 yuan) from the Zhangjiajie downtown area to Tianmen Moutain Cablecar Station. From there, it is a 10-to-15-minute ride to the theater on bus 5 or 9. You can also hire a private car from your location to the theater.
Things to Keep in Mind
The show is open to the public from March to December and starts at 20:10 daily. It is better to get the tickets earlier in the day as you can get a better seat location. The seat numbers are given on the ticket.
As the show takes place at night, it can get cold so it is better to be equipped with warm clothing. You can also keep an insect repellent with you if you feel bothered by insects at night. If it rains, raincoats will be provided to the audience at the venue.
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Tour the Enchanting Zhangjiajie with China Highlights
With so much to see and experience in this labyrinth of mountains, it is advisable to have a guide to show you around. From arranging hotels to planning the trip according to your tastes and requirements, our experts can help you to get the best experience of your China tour.
For visiting Zhangjiajie, you can choose our 4-day Zhangjiajie tour that will take you to all the major places of interest, or if you are interested in a more detailed tour of the region, you can choose our 7-day Hunan Discovery tour.