A Must-See Under the Night Sky: "The Song of Everlasting Sorrow"
"The Song of Everlasting Sorrow" Performance: A Timeless Romance of the Tang Dynasty, a Visual Epic Woven with Light and Shadow
As night falls and the city lights begin to glow, the shore of the Nine-Dragon Lake at Huaqing Palace in Xi’an is gradually enveloped in a hazy twilight. When the first beam of light pierces the night sky, illuminating the silhouette of Mount Li, the large-scale live historical dance drama "The Song of Everlasting Sorrow" unfolds on this land steeped in millennia of stories. Using Mount Li as the backdrop and the lake as the stage, with light and shadow as the brush and song and dance as the ink, it brings to life the legendary love of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and Yang Guifei—“wishing to be birds flying wing to wing in the sky, and branches intertwined on earth”—turning it into a soul-stirring audiovisual feast that lets the audience experience the splendor and melancholy of the flourishing Tang Dynasty through a blend of reality and illusion.
The performance opens with a grand depiction of the Tang Dynasty’s prosperity. As melodious music begins, hundreds of dancers dressed in magnificent Tang costumes gracefully arrive, their sleeves fluttering, recreating the luxury and romance of “bathing in the spring chill at Huaqing Pool, the warm spring water smooth as cream.” Amid shifting lights, the mist rises from Huaqing Pool, blending with the dancers’ movements, as if transporting the audience back to the Kaiyuan era, a time of endless music and dance. The first meeting of Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Guifei unfolds slowly amid dazzling light and gentle dance, their tender glances perfectly capturing the stunning beauty described as “a single glance and a smile bewitch a hundred charms, making all the palace beauties pale in comparison.”
The middle section elevates the intensity of their love and the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty to a climax. In the chapter of the “Rainbow Skirt and Feathered Coat Dance,” Yang Guifei, dressed in a splendid feathered costume, dances gracefully under the moonlight, her movements light and enchanting like a fairy descending to earth. On stage, the light and shadow shift unpredictably, sometimes transforming into a starry sky, sometimes into a dazzling sea of flowers, perfectly matching the dancers’ motions and creating a dreamlike atmosphere. Meanwhile, the solemn palace guards and the jubilant common folk intertwine, fully showcasing the Tang Dynasty’s peace and cultural prosperity. The deep affection between Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Guifei within this setting makes their love even more moving against the backdrop of a flourishing era.
However, beauty is always fleeting. The iron hooves of the An Lushan Rebellion shatter the tranquility of the Tang Dynasty, and the atmosphere of the performance turns sharply somber. Rapid drumbeats, dim lighting, and soldiers’ shouts vividly portray the tragic and heroic scene of “beneath Mawei Slope, buried in the mud, the jade-like face is no longer seen.” At the moment of Yang Guifei’s demise, the lights suddenly dim, the music sobs, and Emperor Xuanzong’s overwhelming grief and helplessness deeply move the audience. This part of the story is not only a tragedy of love but also reflects the vicissitudes of the dynasty’s rise and fall, adding profound depth to "The Song of Everlasting Sorrow."
In the finale, the scene of “on the seventh day of the seventh month at the Palace of Eternal Life, when no one is awake at midnight” is recreated through light and shadow. Emperor Xuanzong, lost in endless longing, dreams of reuniting with Yang Guifei in a fairyland. They hold hands and gaze at each other, expressing a love that transcends life and death. At this moment, the outline of Mount Li becomes clearer under the lights, and the lake ripples with shimmering waves, as if silently blessing this timeless romance. The performance concludes with the heartfelt chant, “Heaven and earth may have an end, but this sorrow will last forever,” the lingering melody leaving the audience immersed in this story where love and history intertwine, unable to let go.
What makes "The Song of Everlasting Sorrow" unique is its perfect fusion of natural scenery and cultural storytelling. The majestic peaks of Mount Li and the flowing waters of Huaqing Pool serve as natural sets, enhanced by advanced lighting technology, exquisite choreography, and grand musical accompaniment, making every scene deeply moving. The actors’ performances are delicate and vivid, whether it is Emperor Xuanzong’s deep affection and helplessness or Yang Guifei’s softness and sorrow, all portrayed with profound depth, making the audience feel as if they are witnessing history firsthand, experiencing the joys and sorrows of this millennia-old love story.
This performance is not only a feast for the eyes and ears but also a dialogue with history and a resonance with love. It brings the timeless classic "The Song of Everlasting Sorrow" off the page and into vivid scenes, touching melodies, and heartfelt acting. When the show ends and the lights come on, Mount Li remains quietly resting, the lake continues to flow, but the love story that spans a thousand years has already been deeply imprinted in the hearts of every audience member, becoming an unforgettable cultural memory.
I had high expectations for "The Song of Everlasting Regret." Before entering, there was a parade of floats and song and dance performances in the square, which created a great atmosphere. The first and second acts of the performance were quite impressive, especially the scene with the stars shining all over the mountain, which was a brilliant idea. However, the subsequent acts were a bit monotonous and lacked depth. They were beautiful, but they lacked a truly moving and impactful quality.
I enjoyed it but since the show is in mandarin and I didn’t look up the story beforehand I was a bit confused. I wouldn’t say the plotline is as obvious as the other commenters suggested. I highly recommend reading about it before going. Arrive at the palace atleast 15mins before the show because you need to print the ticket and there’s usually a queue.
Mind blowing decorations and performance! Highly recommend
实际看下来,感觉舞台效果非常好,场景看起来也是气势恢弘,月亮升起星星闪起的时候,安史之乱战火纷飞的时候,都是让人哇的一下惊叹,作为歌舞剧来说应该还不错了,基本都是跳舞,转场有点解说,但我失望的点也在这里,我以为会很有故事性,千古情是从头到尾能沉浸在故事里,而且通过演员的表演,我能看的很清晰剧情是什么,并为之感动落泪;而长恨歌主要就是歌舞,明明对这段历史和故事都很熟悉了,但是看着冗长的舞蹈还会有点懵有点无聊,加上这俩人的爱情也不知道哪里算感人,小林都睡着了一段,我也有一段时间感觉不太想看下去,还好不久后又有一些光效的刺激~所以总体来说我是失望的,就是美是很美的,演员是很好的,总体也很不错,就是和我自己的期望值比是没达到,仅仅是个人观点,不具有代表性~
Buy the Song of Everlasting Regret, go to Ctrip! Watch the sunset! It's beautiful... Ctrip is really good. For the same price, you can not only enjoy the early admission service, but also watch the sunset of Mount Li and experience the romantic atmosphere of the sunset of Mount Li. The Eight Scenic Spots of Guanzhong, the sunset of Mount Li... You still have to come to Huaqing Palace
The show is so popular! There are four shows every day! The actors, staff and tourists are all so hard-working... The stage effect is beautiful, but the seats are too low, and the height difference between each layer is too small, which is easily blocked by the front row... So try to buy seats in the front of the middle area, the viewing effect will be better (of course, you will also feel the shock of Yuyang drums shaking the earth from a closer distance!) If you buy a later show, you can go to the mall/small street opposite the Song of Everlasting Regret Square for dinner + foot massage! In fact, I think the soundtrack and narration can be improved, otherwise it would be a waste of Bai Juyi's beautiful poems! After all, the boy could sing the Song of Everlasting Regret and the Hu boy could sing the Pipa. This kind of super top IP can really be improved! (For example, the Tokyo Dream in the Qingming Shanghe Park in Kaifeng not only has a grand scene and a shocking plot, but also those beautiful Song poems + soundtracks play a finishing touch!) Bai Juyi's tomb is in the Baiyuan, Dongshan, Longmen. If you go to the Longmen Grottoes, you can go and see it
The VIP lounge package of Song of Everlasting Regret is really good. For the same price, you can not only enjoy the early admission service, but also watch the sunset of Mount Li and experience the romantic atmosphere of the sunset of Mount Li. The desserts and snacks are also delicious and taste amazing. I would recommend friends who come to Xi'an to experience it.
A song of everlasting regret is nothing but a rush of prosperity. It is just a slow turn of words telling farewell. When the song ends, people will disperse. Time is the most corrosive. After washing away the glittering things, the dazzling glory will eventually become a passing cloud and a scenery that cannot be retained. As night falls and the lights come on, the lights of the performance venue of "Song of Everlasting Regret" slowly light up. At that moment, it is really shocking. Just like the stars, it instantly brings the audience into a dreamlike world, making people sigh that life is so beautiful. Tonight, we will appreciate the charm of this eternal masterpiece together and feel the endless touching and shock it brings. On this night of the performance of "Song of Everlasting Regret", we seemed to have experienced a journey through time and space. We were moved by the deep emotions and shocked by the beautiful pictures. Let us look forward to the next cultural feast like this again, so that we can feel the beautiful moments of brilliant lights, bright stars and the most beautiful world again!