As night falls over Zhangjiajie’s valleys, the breeze carries the fragrance of plants and trees. Suddenly, the lights of Charm of Western Hunan illuminate the silhouettes of the towering peaks, unfolding a cultural feast that spans thousands of years.
This live-action performance, with the natural landscapes as its stage backdrop, has completely reshaped the understanding of theatrical art. Distant exotic peaks serve as the natural setting, mountain streams accompany the melody, and nearly a thousand actors from the Tujia, Miao, and Bai ethnic groups, dressed in embroidered costumes, lay bare the vitality of Western Hunan through their simplest songs, dances, and cries.
The most touching part is undoubtedly the chapter “Pursuing Love”. Miao girls dance gracefully to the rhythm of drums, the crisp sound of silver ornaments clinking blending with the chirping of insects in the mountains. As their skirts flutter, it reveals their passionate yearning for love; young men’s leaf flutes echo across the valleys, their rough yet tender tunes allowing people to instantly understand the bold and sincere nature of the people in Western Hunan.
The portrayal of “Crying at the Wedding” is even more moving—the whispers of the elderly mother combing her daughter’s hair, the bride’s reluctance as she covers her face and weeps, vividly depicting the Tujia custom of “expressing joy through tears” in weddings. That longing for hometown and family strikes a chord deep in the heart under the dim light.
The most shocking moment of the performance is the chorus of the classic folk song “Mulberry Tree as a Lampstand”. Hundreds of villager actors sing this timeless ballad with their original vocal styles, their voices desolate yet distant, as if echoing from the depths of history, telling the tenacity and affection of the people in Western Hunan. In the background, the red glow of the bonfire illuminates the actors’ dark faces and the rolling peaks in the distance.
Nature and humanity blend perfectly at this moment, making people truly feel the profound meaning of “one land nurtures one people”.
