The Ice and Fire version of "Song of Everlasting Sorrow" begins.
based on 61 reviewsAdapted from Bai Juyi's narrative poem of the same name, the large-scale live historical dance drama Song of Everlasting Sorrow is staged year-round on the shores of Jiulong Lake within the Huaqing Palace attraction in Xi'an, the very place where the story of Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Guifei unfolded. The performance runs approximately 70 minutes. It begins with the betrothal and investiture of "the Yang family's daughter, newly grown," who is "chosen to attend the emperor," moves through the hot spring bath of "granted a dip in Huaqing Pool in the chill of spring" and the glorious feasts of "the Li Palace rising into the clouds," then to the sudden outbreak of war as "the war drums of Yuyang shake the earth" and the parting at Mawei where "her jeweled hairpin lies on the ground, unclaimed," and finally closes with "we shall meet again, in heaven or in this world": in a dream, Emperor Xuanzong enters the fairy realm of Penglai and is reunited with Yang Yuhuan as white doves soar into the sky, echoing the vow "in heaven, we shall be birds flying side by side; on earth, we shall be branches intertwined." Hundreds of performers in magnificent Tang Dynasty costumes share the stage, with the vigorous and spirited Huxuan dance and the graceful, lilting Nichang Yuyi dance, as the grandeur of the High Tang and the sorrow of parting in life and death unfold act by act.
What sets this performance apart from ordinary stage shows is that it draws on the surrounding scenery to create its mood: Mount Li serves as the backdrop, Jiulong Lake as the stage, and the pavilions and palace towers along the lakeshore are all woven into the drama. At the opening, a lotus flower blooms gracefully on the lake surface, and Yang Yuhuan, draped in long gauze, emerges gracefully from within the blossom; during the performance, performers soar through the air on wires, and water and fire effects take turns appearing—waves spray from the lake and flames ignite; in the night, lights trace the outline of Mount Li, with dots of light covering the mountain as if a sky full of stars had fallen into it. The entire performance is staged outdoors, and temperatures by the lake at night tend to be cool, so bringing a jacket is recommended; if you want to photograph the night view of Mount Li, it is worth arriving a little early.












Other visitors' reviews of Song of Everlasting Sorrow
Show More ReviewsHighly recommended! Although the tickets are expensive, they're worth it! The performance was spectacular, the stage design was fantastic, and the lighting was absolutely stunning. However, some audience members kept walking around, which was annoying. Hopefully, the staff could try to keep them from doing that.