Xiyi of Dali Performance

I. Creative Context and Cultural Roots

1. Modern Adaptation of the “Wangfu Cloud” Legend

• Reimagining a Folk Narrative: The show is based on the “Wangfu Cloud” legend, a tragic love story from Bai ethnic folklore, documented in historical texts like Nanzhao Wild History (《南诏野史》) and Dali County Annals (《大理县志稿》). The original tale, influenced by Buddhism and Han culture, evolves here into a story of love defying power and destiny.
• Symbolic Reinvention: Chen Kaige replaces the traditional “Master Luoquan” (罗荃法师) with a “General,” emphasizing the conflict between authoritarian oppression and romantic rebellion while retaining core symbols like the “Cangshan God” and the “Hunter’s Fossilization,” making the story universally resonant.

2. Cross-Border Collaboration of International Teams

• Tech-Art Synergy: With a total investment of 250 million RMB, the production united global talents: Chen as chief director, Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi (of Spirited Away and Kikujiro fame) as music director, Gao Yanjinzi (artistic director of Beijing Modern Dance Company) for choreography, and Chen Tongxun for costume design. It aimed to create the most technologically advanced live-action stage in Asia at the time.
• Musical Innovation: Hisaishi’s theme song, Deep Love (《珍爱深深》), fused Yunnan ethnic music with symphonic arrangements, lyrics by Li Jian, and a vocal range spanning two octaves. Li experimented extensively during recording to capture the epic emotional depth.

II. Artistic Features and Technological Innovations

1. Revolutionary Stage Design

• Spatial Storytelling: Set at Beimen Reservoir in Dali, the theater featured a 223-meter-wide “Rainbow Bridge” spanning the water, a 33-meter-high fog and water screen projection system, and a 1,800-ton mechanical stage capable of complex movements—elevating, rotating, and flipping—to merge nature and technology into an immersive “mountain-water-stage.”
• Visual Spectacle: Technologies like vertical-lateral lifting, 3D projection, and surround sound created surreal effects: the hunter’s “cliff-walking” via wirework, and the princess’s transformation into clouds through smoke and projections, blurring reality and myth.

2. Multidisciplinary Performance Fusion

• Dance and Martial Arts: The 600-member cast included professional dancers and martial artists. The “Tiger Hunting” scene combined the strength of martial arts with modern dance fluidity, while the “War Conquest” used group choreography to evoke oppressive power.
• Modernized Ethnic Elements: Bai cultural symbols like tie-dye patterns and the “Three-Course Tea” ritual were abstracted into stage backdrops. In the “Torch Courtship” scene, LED torches replaced traditional flames, balancing authenticity with contemporary aesthetics.

III. Social Impact and Controversies

1. Economic Boost for Tourism

• Industrial Drive: The show reportedly generated 450 million RMB in annual revenue for Dali, boosting local hospitality and employment by hiring 500+ local actors and supporting 1,000+ jobs.
• Cultural Branding: Endorsed by the Dali government as a key project for “tourism re-innovation,” it integrated with landmarks like the Three Pagodas and Butterfly Spring, extending visitor stays.

2. Debates and Criticisms

• Environmental and Noise Concerns: Early complaints (2011) accused the stage of occupying irrigation reservoirs, causing farmland water shortages, and loud night performances disrupting the ancient city’s tranquility, sparking debates like “Chen Kaige Damaging the City.” The production compensated villagers and restored the reservoir, but some discontent persisted.
• Cultural Simplification: Scholars argued the show reduced Bai culture to a “romantic landscape” cliché, 淡化 ignoring historical depth—e.g., downplaying Buddhist elements in favor of power struggles, criticized as “cultural fast food.”

3. Industry Influence and Reflection

• Pioneering Live-Action Formats: As a milestone after Zhang Yimou’s “Impression Series,” its narrative-driven structure (vs. fragmentary scenes) inspired future shows to prioritize storytelling.
• Return-on-Investment Questions: Despite massive costs, box office data remained undisclosed. Media questioned its sustainability, wondering if the “star director + big investment” model was viable long-term.

IV. Current Status and Cultural Heritage Value

1. Operation and Potential Upgrades

• Recent Developments: According to Dali’s 2023 environmental inspection, the project was undergoing 整改 (rectification) for reservoir ecology and ancient city harmony. No revival was mentioned during the 2025 “Sanyue Street” Festival, suggesting possible suspension or redesign.
• Tech-Upgrade Prospects: A future revival might integrate 5G and AR, offering interactive apps for audience-stage engagement or VR re-creations of mythical scenes.

2. Reassessing Cultural Legacy

• Living Transmission of Folklore: By transforming oral tradition into visual art, the show made the “Wangfu Cloud” accessible to younger generations, inadvertently promoting intangible cultural heritage.
• Balancing Preservation and Development: Controversies spurred academic discussions on sustainable cultural tourism, emphasizing the need to balance commercial exploitation with heritage protection.

V. Extended Viewing and Experience Tips

1. Related Artworks

• Film The Promise (《无极》): Chen Kaige’s earlier work shares this show’s exploration of Eastern aesthetics, blending grand scenes with fantastical elements.
• Bai Opera Wangfu Cloud: A 1980 adaptation by the Dali Bai Troupe, preserving traditional music and performances for a comparative perspective.

2. On-Site Experience Tips

• Optimal Viewing: Original showtimes were 20:30 (summer) or 20:00 (winter); arrive early to witness the sunset over Cangshan and Erhai merging with stage lights.
• Cultural Itinerary: Pair the show with ancient city night tours and Erhai cycling to deepen immersion in Dali’s “Wind, Flowers, Snow, and Moon” (风花雪月) ethos.