Stunning Tang Dynasty dance captivates audience in historic Xi'an city

The winter edition of the live-action historical dance drama, "The Song of Everlasting Sorrow," was staged on Sunday in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, offering audience a captivating visual feast and immersing them in the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

Based on the epic poem by renowned Chinese poet Bai Juyi (772-846), the performance vividly recounts the romantic tale of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty and his beloved concubine Yang Yuhuan.

Staged within the city's cultural landmark Huaqing Palace, a former winter resort for emperors in the Tang Dynasty located at the foot of the Lishan Mountain, the performance captivated over 3,000 spectators with its stunning visual effects.

This year's version saw innovative enhancements to the costumes, props, and sound design, with a particular focus on heightening the icy and snowy effects on stage. Combined with the illumination of the Huaqing Palace complex, the historical drama presented a visually stunning winter wonderland that transported the audience back to the glorious Tang era.

"The performance was very impressive. It was my first time to come to Xi'an to feel the culture of the Tang Dynasty, and it was wonderful to see the flourishing era of the Tang Dynasty come alive before my eyes," said a tourist from north China's Hebei Province.

"Judging from the choreography to the stage arrangement, the choice of costumes and songs, and the color matching, it was a very thoughtful performance," said another tourist from central China's Henan Province.

Since its debut in the winter of 2021, the winter version of "The Song of Everlasting Sorrow" has welcomed over 840,000 visits to Xi'an, seamlessly blending historical storytelling, stage artistry, and modern technology.

The 2024 edition is scheduled to run until February 28, 2025.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties for more than 1,100 years. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

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