Impression Lijiang Show and Tickets Booking

About Impression Lijiang

Impression Lijiang is a cultural show which demonstrating the traditions and lifestyle of local Naxi, Yi and Bai ethnics of the area. It is the second outdoor production of famous film director, Zhang Yimou which debuts an open-air performance at the foot of Yulong Xueshan (Jade Dragon Snow Mountain) about 3500 metes above sea level. The performance stage is specially designed to showcase the mountain as the best backdrop of the show. More than 500 local people from ten ethnic groups have been selected over 16 towns and villages nearby to take part in the performances which includes folk songs, dances as well as rituals for tourists.

Also check the photos of Impression Lijiang Show

Unlike many other shows which taken place in the evening and a lot of lighting devices can be applied in order to increase the performance effect while covering up mistakes and blemishes, Impression Lijiang which Zhang Yimou has spent two years for the preparation was innovatively staged in the morning. As an outdoor performance in full daylight, no room for mistakes is allowed. Zhang Yimou has become the first one who dares to put an outdoor performance during daytime.

The performance began with more than 400 male performers wearing in their traditional costumes of respective ethnic groups that line up accordingly along the mountain path and shouting to the sky “We are farmers, we are stars”. All the songs and dances that includes within the show are largely portray the daily life of the local people. Perhaps, the tourists might feel surprised by the matriarchal context of the performances which depicting the women going to work while he men are just laze around and get drunk. This culture is different obviously when compared with other ethnics even with the Han Chinese culture. In comparison, the ethnic of Mosuo is practicing a very strict matriarchal culture while ethnic of Naxi is having a relatively substantial matriarchal element. On the other hand, there are performances that depict the well known tea trading culture of Yunnan Province as well.

"Impression Lijiang Jokul" is a magnificant outdoor production held on a huge man-made stage at the foot of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, 3,100m (10,170 feet) above sea level, near Lijiang city in southwestern China's Yunnan province since July 23, 2006. About 500 amateur performers from 10 ethnic minority groups selected from some 16 towns and villages around Lijiang took part in the US$31-million production by acclaimed Chinese director Zhang Yimou.

"Impression Lijiang" is a cultural show demonstrating the traditions and lifestyles of the Naxi, Yi and Bai peoples of the area. The show takes place inside Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Park at 3500 meters in an outdoor theater specifically designed to showcase the mountain which is used as a breath-taking backdrop.

Director - Zhang Yimou
Chinese director Zhang Yimou is well known for his films but much less is known about his creation of a series of the world's first outdoor scene performances in China know as the "Impressions," including "Impression Liu Sanjie," "Impression Lijiang" and "Impression of West Lake."

Since graduating from the Beijing Film Academy in 1982 at the ripe young age of 32, Zhang Yimou has emerged as one of the most recognized film directors currently in China. With many films under his belt he is now the most prolific of the so called "Fifth Generation" film directors. While his films are quite well-known globally, very little is known about his recent divergence into stage production, which has ultimately led him to co-direct the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.

Two parts of Impression Lijiang Show
Divided into two parts, "Snow Mountain Impression" and "Ancient City Impression", the production, which has cost 31 million U.S. dollars to make, will be staged at the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Dayan Ancient Town, two famous scenic spots in Lijiang, a scenic city in southwestern China.

The performance began with more than 400 male performers in their traditional costumes of respective ethnic groups shouting to the sky "we are farmers, we are stars."

Production aims
The production aims to provide an insight into the lives of the region's ethnic groups through song and dance.

Actors - local people
The actors, including 400 local folks in various costumes of 10 ethnic groups and 100 horses have been selected from 16 towns and villages in Lijiang of Yunnan Province to perform daily folk songs, dances and rituals for tourists at the foot of the mist-shrouded Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

No lighting for artistic decoration
Unlike indoor or evening performances that can use lighting to cover up blemishes, an outdoor performance in full daylight allows no room for mistakes or "artistic decoration or artificial disguise," Zhang said, "No one dared to put an outdoor performance at day time before. I made this decision after having wide-ranging investigation."

Evaluation
From the director - Zhang Yimou
When his production was put into the final rehearsal two months ago, Zhang granted it 80 scores against 100. Zhang believes he has "accomplished a dialogue with nature" in this outdoor production. The folk custom and culture of minority ethnic groups give him confidence to try outdoor performances. "I am picky with my products," he said. "But this time I'm touched by the passion and warmth of the folk people, and 100 percent satisfied with their performance."

"There's a real feeling of nature. The day show complements the unique local traditional culture. It is incomparable to an indoor or evening show and it will bring a fresh feeling to the audience," Zhang said.

From the assistant - Fan Yue
Zhang's assistant Fan Yue said the success of the performance lied in the local custom and culture.

From the audience
More than 99 percent of the audience interviewed said they had seen nothing like it before and almost all the audience was "moved" or "inspired.

Matriarchal culture
"Impression Lijiang" is a series of musical performances that largely portray the life of the Naxi and Mosuo minority people. Westerners might initially be surprised by the matriarchal context of the performances depicting the women going to work while the men laze around, get drunk and sing songs to make their women proud. It should be considered that both cultures are quite different to most others, even to that of Han Chinese culture. The Mosuo are a strictly matriarchal culture while the Naxi (which is officially regarded as a parent culture to the Mosuo) has substantial matriarchal elements.

To balance things out there are performances that depict the famous tea trading of Yunnan, which was a dangerous activity for the men of the time as it involved negotiating the infamous and treacherous mountain Tea Trail. Such trading, however, has completely died out in recent decades.

Tickets of Impression Lijiang
Where to buy tickets
However, the show does not have a plot and is directed towards tourists. Tickets can be bought from the ticket agency by Lijiang China International Travel Agency located in Lifang Shopping Building in Xiangeli Avenue. Tel:86-888-8880200 Fax:86-888-8886376 Moble:13987040240

Impression Lijiang Show Tickets Booking:
The ticket price does not include transportation to and from the theater (approx 1 hour drive) or the entrance fee for the park. There is also an Old Town Preservation fee that the park tries to charge as well, however, this can be avoided by claiming to have already paid at you hotel (and showing your hotel key).

Price of Impression Lijiang:

Normal Ticket190Yuan,

VIP ticket 260Yuan,  but you have to show the Lijiang Ancient Town Presrevation Ticket 80Yuan you can buy in the hotel, as well as the entrance ticket of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain 80Yuan.

How to get there
Bus No. 7 will take you to the theater for only 10 yuan (can be caught across from the Mao Zedong statue) but be sure to find out what time the last bus leaves the park.