Enduring Memories of Hangzhou, directed by the famous director Zhang Yimou, was firstly performed on September 4th, 2016 as a night show for the G20 Summit Evening Gala. The cultural performance is the first domestic large-scale symphony concert on an outdoor water stage. And since then, the music and dance performance becomes a permanent night show for the travelers who are interested in the folks of Hangzhou on the West Lake.
The 50-minute visual extravaganza, Enduring Memories of Hangzhou or Most Memorable is Hangzhou, is a title taken from a poem by ancient poet Bai Juyi. It features the local culture of Hangzhou and the unique charm of West Lake. The venue is at the Yue Lake Scenic Area, opposite to the Yue Fei Temple. The show is unavailable during winter as outdoors in the night is too cold for the audience. Normally the performance runs daily from March till early December. The night show is performed starting from 19:30. In peak travel seasons, the crew would add a second one starting from 21:00. The tickets are divided into 4 classes based on the seat areas.
The Enduring Memories of Hangzhou is the updated version of the Impression West Lake. Debuted in 2007, the Impression West Lake is the third piece of the Impression series after Impression Liu Sanjie and Impression Lijiang. The Enduring Memories of Hangzhou remains nearly 70 percent of the elements of the Impression West Lake.
The Show vividly presents the history and culture of Hangzhou or West Lake by combining the ancient folk legends or myths like the popular Legend of White Snake and the Butterfly Lovers.
The unique stage of the show is set 3 centimeters below the water. The units of the performance include symphony, dance, Yue Opera, and piano solo. The audience could also see both Chinese and Western dance like ballet and traditional folk dance.
The best way to appreciate this city’s culture and history thoroughly in a short time is to watch one of its best shows. Enduring Memories of Hangzhou is a world-class show for its dreamlike performance and fantastic elegance. Incorporated international elements and oriental factors by modern high technique stage settings, the show highlights the city’s rich cultural heritage as well as the opening trend of globalization.