CNY270/USD40
Lights show at 20:00-21:10
Daily event, all year round
Set against the breathtaking karst mountains of Yangshuo, Impression Sanjie Liu is one of China's most spectacular outdoor performances. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Zhang Yimou, the creative force behind the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, this unforgettable evening show transforms the tranquil Li River into a vast natural stage, where water, mountains, light, music, and culture merge into a mesmerizing visual masterpiece. Zhang Yimou was inspired by the legendary folk singer Liu Sanjie of the Zhuang ethnic minority, the performance celebrates the traditions, music, and daily life of the people who have lived along the Li River for generations. Rather than telling a conventional story, the show creates a series of poetic scenes through colour, movement, and song, capturing the harmony between humanity and nature. More than 600 local performers—including fishermen, farmers, and villagers—bring the landscape to life aboard bamboo rafts, illuminated by thousands of dazzling lights that reflect across the river's surface.
Unlike a traditional theatre production, every performance is unique. The changing weather, drifting mist, moonlight, and seasonal scenery become part of the show itself, creating an atmosphere that can never be exactly repeated. The surrounding limestone peaks, mirrored in the calm waters of the Li River, provide a dramatic natural backdrop unlike any theatre in the world.
Combining stunning visual effects, authentic local culture, and one of China's most iconic landscapes, Impression Sanjie Liu has become a must-see experience for visitors to Guilin and Yangshuo. It is more than a light show—it is a celebration of Guangxi's rich cultural heritage and the timeless beauty of the Li River, leaving audiences with memories long after the final lights fade.