#outdoor theatre

Quang Minh: Impression Lijiang, 2012

Impression: Lijiang is a large-scale show composed of a series of musical performances that largely portray the life of the Naxi, Yi, and Bai peoples of the western part of Yunnan (雲南). The show takes place inside Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Park near the town of Lijiang (麗江), at an incredible elevation of 3500 metres in an outdoor theater specifically designed to showcase the mountain which is used as a backdrop.

The production itself is designed by Zhang Yimou (director of Raise the Red Lantern, Hero,House of Flying Daggers), Fan Yue and Wang Chaoge, and features a cast of over 500 people, and a more than 100 horses. It runs since 2007.

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 Yi and Bai are a strictly matriarchal culture while the Naxi (which is officially regarded as a parent culture to both the Yi and Bai) 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.

By the way: The view of the massif from the gardens at the Black Dragon Pool (Heilong Tan) in Lijiang is noted as one of China’s finest views, and part of Yulong Snow Mountain Scenic Area, a AAAAA-classified scenic area.

More of Quang Minh’s photos from Yunnan here.

Here’s a trailer we made for the last night of Orpheus the Mariner, starting at 5 tonight in Scarborough as part of coastival. Why not go and check it out, it’s going to be awesome!