If you so happen to be visiting Xian during the period between April and October, you are highly recommended to watch the spectacular singing and dancing performance named “Song of Everlasting Sorrow” set at the Huaqing Pools, at the foot of the majestic Mount, 30km away from the city centre of Xi’an.

“The Song of Everlasting Sorrow” has won several top accolades and awards and has been crowned as one of China’s must-see performances. It is the first show in China to be staged against the backdrop of real mountains, ponds, pavilions, corridors and an ancient architectural complex instead of a theatre as well as the first to revive a epic proportion at the very real-scene of its occurrence. 

Incorporating dazzling lights, beautiful music and songs, lavish costumes and props, a movable stage which is partially submerged in the water, narrative poem, high-tech acoustics and special effects, the show reenacts the magnificent era of the flourishing Tang Dynasty, and allows the audience to travel back in time to witness the love lament took place 1000 years ago. As the lights projected onto the mountain and the the stage lifts through the water, This mega visual experience leaves audience gasping in awe incessantly. This tour-de-force of performance beyond doubt is feast for eyes ad hears.

The performance is adapted on the same name poem written by the renowned realistic  poet Bai Juyi (772-846) of Tang Dynasty, interpreting the touching tragedy of Xuan Zong, one of the Emperors of the Tang Dynasty, and his favorite imperial concubine, Yang Yuhuan, The Emperor fell in love with the stunningly beautiful Lady Yang and took her into the palace as his concubine.Yang was not only beautiful, but also very talented in music and dancing and the emperor was so deeply enticed.

The ministers and the soldiers around Emperor Xuanzong thought that it was Yang who had diverted the Emperor’s focus from ruling duties, causing unrest and leading to a coup d’état, and they had Yang killed.

On the evening of Qixi Festival (every year on July 7th according to Chinese lunar calendar, also known as the Chinese Valentine’s Day), Emperor Xuanzong and Yang were reunited, looking at the Milky Way, showing their affections to each other.

The poem-turned extravaganza is presented in four parts with a preclude and 10 scenes, namely “Fall in Love”, “A Sweet Couple”, “Goodbye to Love” and “Meet again on Fairyland” Though with no English subtitles provided, foreigners lack of understanding of Chinese would have no bother to appreciating and following the plots for there is not much dialogue, mostly music and dance.

Making a night of it and staying at one of the Hot Spring Hotels and resorts within the Lintong area is considered to be a good choice. Since the show is at night and is on the same eastern travel route from Xian’s city center with Terracotta Warriors  Museum and Mount Li, it could be taken into account as your wonderful final stop of the day combined with a day visit to these two mentioned-above attractions.

Twice performances a day ( Valid from April through October )   20:00 – 21:10; 21:40 – 22:50