Art is the refinement and expression of life. A great artistic work not only moves people emotionally but also touches them aesthetically, providing a spiritual delight. The Silk Road was an important channel through which ancient Chinese civilization reached the world and is hailed as the "Grand Canal of Culture." Gansu, stretching across three thousand miles, is the golden section of the Silk Road. The humanistic life of Gansu over the centuries is like a scroll of art drifting through time and space. Today’s artisans present the artistic beauty of Silk Road culture to visitors from all over the world through various cultural performance projects.
"Silk Road Rainbow" is a must-see for travelers in Dunhuang. This musical drama is based on the world-famous Dunhuang murals and the Silk Road, telling the story of the Dunhuang painter Shenbi Zhang, his daughter Yingniang, and a Persian merchant who share weal and woe and forge a deep bond. Premiered in 1979, "Silk Road Rainbow" has been praised by the media as "living Dunhuang murals, a beautiful artistic experience" and "such dances belong in heaven, rarely seen on earth." The production draws on the strengths of folk dances from various regions, celebrates the long-standing friendship between the Chinese and Western Regions peoples, and recreates the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty with flourishing internal governance and frequent economic and cultural exchanges abroad. With its unique artistic style, it brings the magnificent Dunhuang murals to the stage, artistically representing the profound richness of Dunhuang culture and the glorious prosperity of the ancient Silk Road. The drama is currently regularly performed at the Dunhuang Grand Theatre and is a must-see for tourists visiting Dunhuang.
"Dunhuang Dream" is a must-see for travelers in Lanzhou, created and performed by the Lanzhou Song and Dance Theatre. Known as the "portable Dunhuang" and "China's version of 'Romeo and Juliet'," "Dunhuang Dream" is set in ancient Dunhuang and tells the touching love story of the young painter Mo Gao and the maiden Yueya. The play showcases the profound art of cave temples, the rich Buddhist culture, trade along the ancient Silk Road, and the local customs of northwest China, reviving the bustling street scenes of Dunhuang from over 1,000 years ago.
The "2017 West Meets Dunhuang Music Festival" is a cultural performance project that pays tribute to the millennia-old Silk Road civilization through contemporary music and art. The passionate rock music at the festival delivered a feast of sound for visitors, fostering the exchange and interaction of folk cultures along the Belt and Road. Over 20,000 music-loving tourists immersed themselves in the melodies of rock and youth in the desert, their enthusiastic cheers piercing the endless night sky of rock. Although the festival concluded perfectly on the evening of August 26 with the final drumbeat on stage, the cultural legend of the Silk Road in Gansu will continue to unfold.
The Gansu Provincial Tourism Development Commission, leveraging its resource advantages, fully taps into its cultural and natural strengths, and continuously plans new models for the integrated development of culture, artistic performances, and the tourism industry with innovative ideas and measures. For example, the Baiyin Yellow River Cultural Tourism Festival will be held from September 28 to October 8, 2017, in Baiyin City, offering visitors a uniquely cultural and artistic feast.
Along the three-thousand-mile golden stretch of the Silk Road in Gansu, the essence of art flows everywhere. A vast array of cultural performances allows every traveler to enjoy an artistic feast and experience the beauty of a vibrant life in an instant. For more highlights and related information, visit the official flagship store of the Gansu Provincial Tourism Development Commission on Qunar: http://zt.dujia.qunar.com/bd/home.php?id=882.