“Yanyu Zhangjiajie” Song and Dance Drama

“Yanyu Zhangjiajie” (《烟雨张家界》) is a song and dance drama that uses the simple life scenes of the Tujia (土家族) and Miao (苗族) ethnic groups in Zhangjiajie as material. The performance incorporates unique and clever dance techniques for artistic creation, accompanied by beautiful and stunning music, providing the audience with the most beautiful visual and auditory experience.

• Chinese Title: 烟雨张家界
• Type: Dance Drama
• Performance Venue: Hallelujah Music Hall (哈利路亚音乐厅)
• Publisher: Tianxia Phoenix Media Company (天下凤凰传媒公司)
• Duration: 80 minutes

Introduction

“Yanyu Zhangjiajie” is a large-scale ethnic style song and dance drama invested and constructed by Tianxia Phoenix Media Company (天下凤凰传媒公司). From planning to its official performance, the production took nearly 10 years. The drama takes the simple life scenes of the Tujia (土家族) and Miao (苗族) ethnic groups in Zhangjiajie as its material and creatively expresses it through unique and sophisticated dance techniques. It integrates modern stage arts, 5.1 surround sound, dreamlike multi-screen matrices, panoramic projections, and virtual-interactive performances. The stunning music brings the audience an unforgettable experience.

Parts of the early version of the drama were performed at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 China International Cultural Tourism Festival (2010首届中国国际文化旅游节) and were broadcast live and recorded by the Travel Television (旅游卫视) across the country.

Plot Summary

The drama tells a love story between Luobachong (洛巴冲), a young man from the Tujia (土家族) ethnic group, and Aiduoluo (阿依朵), a Miao (苗族) girl, set in the misty and ethereal mountains of Zhangjiajie (张家界) during ancient times.

Ethnic Culture

“Yanyu Zhangjiajie” (烟雨张家界) is a 70-minute performance consisting of 10 segments revolving around the central love story of Luobachong (洛巴冲) and Aiduoluo (阿依朵). The drama skillfully showcases the rich ethnic culture of Zhangjiajie, including its history, farming culture, shamanistic traditions, architectural culture, clothing culture, food culture, and wedding customs. Several cultural elements such as the Sangzhi Folk Songs (桑植民歌), Miao Gu dance (茅古斯舞蹈), Tujia (土家) brocade weaving, and various traditional wedding customs are included, with some listed in the national intangible cultural heritage directory.

Detailed Descriptions

Walking into the Mountains

Zhangjiajie (张家界) is home to countless mysterious ancient villages nestled deep within the vast mountains. In these villages, the Tujia (土家族), Bai (白族), and Miao (苗族) people live, and it is said that Zhangjiajie was named by the gods as a paradise on Earth. Those who enter this divine place are blessed with peace and safety throughout their lives. Together, we will walk into this ancient mountain range and approach these mysterious villages, where beautiful scenes will slowly unfold in the misty depths of the mountains.

Welcoming Song and Wine

The friendly and hospitable villagers will welcome guests from all over the world with the warmest gestures. A large bowl of fragrant rice wine is presented, filled with three blessings from the mountain gods:

1. The first bowl welcomes distant guests, offering them comfort and relaxation.
2. The second bowl honors the guest as a messenger of the gods, praying for a bountiful harvest and prosperous livestock.
3. The third bowl, for the young and brave, is a wish for strength and good health.

Weaving Girl

The clever Aiduoluo (阿依朵) weaves beautiful ribbons with colorful threads, each representing her shy feelings, which she then offers to her beloved Luobachong (洛巴冲), tying them to his heart.

Sangzhi Folk Song

For centuries, the Sangzhi Folk Song (桑植民歌) has permeated with rich ethnic memories, its melodies stretching long and high, crossing mountains and streams. These songs express feelings about life, reverence for the ancient, yearning for beauty, and praise for love, all deeply embedded in the melodies and resonating in the heavens and earth.

Pressing Oil at the Bench

Young men and women in the village playfully press against each other on a long wooden bench. This act, called “pressing oil” (挤油尖), symbolizes the strong emotional bond between the two and the joy that springs from their affectionate interactions.

Heavenly Bath

In a scene set in Jinbian Creek (金鞭溪), Aiduoluo (阿依朵) lets her long hair flow freely while bathing in the light of the sky, resembling a spirit in the water, like the peach blossoms chasing the water, softly fluttering and playing. The beauty of life is most elegantly revealed in this scene.

Love in the Mountains and Waters

The mountains witness the pure love between Luobachong (洛巴冲) and Aiduoluo (阿依朵). Luobachong (洛巴冲) gently places the red veil over Aiduoluo’s (阿依朵) head, and under the moonlight, they dance together in each other’s arms.

Killing the Wild Bull

In the village, there is a tradition: any young man who wishes to marry a bride must first pass a test set by the mountain god, killing a wild bull sent by the god. The bull’s horns are used as a dowry to symbolize the man’s courage. Luobachong (洛巴冲) courageously ventures into the forest, accepting numerous challenges to win Aiduoluo’s (阿依朵) heart.

Headscarf Binding

After passing the tests, Luobachong (洛巴冲) returns with the wild bull’s horns. Meanwhile, Aiduoluo (阿依朵) is preparing for the wedding, wrapping her head with a 15-meter-long scarf and wearing the most beautiful dress, waiting to welcome the brave warrior.

Wedding Ceremony

The wedding is the most important ceremony in the village. Customs like crying at the wedding, guessing the bride’s identity, and stealing the bed are an inseparable part of Tujia (土家族) weddings. These customs, along with the passionate matchmaking, fiery bridesmaids, and unique traditions, all add to the excitement of the celebration.

Grand Celebration

The people of the mountains celebrate with joyful songs, dressed in grand costumes and with radiant smiles, sending their sincerest blessings to their distant relatives and friends. “Adorn me with silver crowns, show me in red beauty, let love flow in the waters, and let the songs soar on the high mountains.”

“Yanyu Zhangjiajie” (烟雨张家界) is a large-scale folk song and dance drama inspired by the simple life of the Tujia (土家族) and Miao (苗族) ethnic groups in Zhangjiajie (张家界), blending traditional folklore with modern technology. This enchanting performance provides a beautiful sensory experience, combining stunning visuals, captivating choreography, and moving music to take the audience on a journey into the heart of Zhangjiajie.

The performance highlights the romance between Luo Bachong (洛巴冲), a handsome Tujia youth, and Ai Duo (阿依朵), a beautiful Miao girl. Set in the misty, ethereal mountains of Zhangjiajie, this love story intertwines with the rich cultural heritage of the region, showcasing the diverse folk traditions of the local ethnic communities.

Performance Highlights

The show lasts for 80 minutes, consisting of 10 segments that follow the main love story of Luo Bachong and Ai Duo. It features the following:

• Folk Culture: The performance brings to life the ancient agricultural, shamanistic, architectural, clothing, culinary, and marriage cultures of Zhangjiajie (张家界) and its people. It includes representations of the unique folk traditions such as the Song of Sangzhi (桑植民歌), Mogu Dance (茅古斯舞蹈), Tujia brocade weaving (土家织锦), and other intangible cultural heritages.

• 3D Visuals: This production is the first large-scale 3D visual folk cultural performance in China. It combines the use of modern technologies such as sound, light, and video effects to create a seamless interaction between live performers and video projections. The actors move between screens, giving the illusion of a magical, dreamlike world.

• Immersive Experience: The drama offers an immersive experience where the audience can see Miao girls with 15-meter-long headscarves, listen to the raw, unfiltered Sangzhi folk songs, and witness the stunning beauty of Tujia clothing and customs. It also showcases the bold spirit of Xiangxi (湘西) men performing bull-slaying rituals and the graceful beauty of Miao girls in their heavenly bathing scenes.

Performance Location

The show is held at the Hallelujah Music Hall (哈利路亚音乐厅) in Zhangjiajie, which is renowned for its unique architectural design and cutting-edge technology. The Hall is considered to be the “Music Hall of God,” with its name coined by the famous Chinese artist Huang Yongyu (黄永玉), who hails from the beautiful town of Fenghuang (凤凰) in western Hunan.

The hall’s design combines traditional and modern elements, with a structure made from local blue shale, and a stage featuring a massive LED screen that allows the performers to interact with visuals. The venue is equipped with 21 moveable LED screens, and in August 2011, it earned a Guinness World Record for hosting the largest number of indoor LED screens.

Folk Culture and Traditional Performances

Throughout the performance, the audience is introduced to various aspects of Zhangjiajie’s rich cultural traditions:

• Welcome Wine Song: In the Miao (苗族) village, the villagers welcome guests with a large bowl of fragrant rice wine, symbolizing three blessings from the mountain gods.

• Weaving Brocade: Ai Duo, the skilled Miao girl, weaves intricate brocade as a symbol of her love for Luo Bachong, creating beautiful pieces of fabric that represent her affection.

• Sangzhi Folk Songs: The soulful songs of the Sangzhi (桑植) region tell stories of life, love, and respect for the ancient traditions, echoing through the mountains for centuries.

• Bull-slaying Rituals: A traditional custom in the Tujia (土家族) culture, where young men must prove their bravery by slaying a wild bull to win the approval of the mountain gods before marrying their love.

“Yanyu Zhangjiajie” is more than just a song and dance drama—it is a vivid portrayal of Zhangjiajie’s (张家界) profound cultural heritage, presented in a way that is both visually stunning and emotionally moving. With its blend of ancient traditions and modern technology, this show is a testament to the timeless beauty and charm of one of China’s most breathtaking regions.

Famous Lines from the Show:

配我之银冠，展我之红颜，让爱在水间流转，让歌在高山飞扬。

“With my silver crown, I display my beauty; let love flow through the waters, and let songs soar through the mountains.”