Zhangjiajie resembles a beautiful painting, illustrating the breathtaking scenery of mountains and rivers. The Charming Xiangxi is a book that captures the essence of millennia-old culture in Xiangxi (western Hunan)!

In the past month, Charming Xiangxi from Zhangjiajie has been proudly highlighted on CCTV News four times in a row. What, then, is the charm of this folk performance?

Local Ethnic Style

Some say that Charming Xiangxi is a microcosm of western Hunan culture, capturing the essence of the region’s humanity in a single performance. This statement certainly holds true. At the beginning of our creation, we assembled a team of well-known artists and cultural scholars to visit the primitive villages in western Hunan. Our efforts were particularly aimed at collecting, organizing, and refining materials related to the time-honored folk traditions, customs practices, and “intangible cultural heritage” performances of the local ethnic minorities.

After a thorough examination of the various artistic expressions of the ethnic groups in western Hunan, the song and dance epic Charming Xiangxi, which promotes and preserves the cultural heritage of the five major ethnic minorities in the region - Tujia, Miao, Bai, Dong, and Yao - has been authentically presented to everyone.

The opening performance, Fire Drum, is the first cultural feast that we meticulously present to our guests from near and far. The blazing flames and the thunderous drumbeats showcase the profound cultural depth of the Miao people. As the curtain of time and space rises, the audience can listen to the powerful and resonant chants, and through the dancing flames, enters the hidden realm of Charming Xiangxi.

We quietly wander through Border Town · Cuicui by Shen Congwen to experience the lively and untainted love that resides in the landscape. As the moon rises, a brave Yao young man chases after love, making his way to the stage of the CMG New Year’s Gala through the performance of Climbing the Stairs. A folk song from Sangzhi, Building a Lantern Platform in a Masang Tree, reveals to us the essence of lifelong companionship and steadfast devotion. Wild Maogusi, regarded as a “living fossil of primitive theater”, takes us back to ancient times, where we can share in the worship and faith in nature and fertility of Tujia ancestors. What was once seen as the eerie practice of Walking Corpse in western Hunan is not about mystery or fear; it reflects the loyal and patriotic spirit, along with a deep love for their land and family, of the people from western Hunan. “The ghosts you fear are, in fact, the very one other yearn for day and night” offers the best interpretation of Walking Corpse in western Hunan. The ninth day of the seventh lunar month is the “Daughter’s Meeting” the of Tujia people, also known as the Eastern Valentine’s Day. Young men and women engage in Love at the Daughter’s Meeting, using songs as their medium and emotions as their bond, evolving from hidden affections to a mutual commitment. In the humorous and witty Song of Joy and Sorrow for a Wedding, the themes of nurturing affection and the pain of separation are expressed through a mix of overt sorrow and subtle joy, combining crying and singing in a heartfelt narrative.

Having enjoyed the intense sensory stimulation, there seems to be a ripple of emotion resonating deep inside. A group of folk artists, secluded in the mountains and skilled in their craft, is persistently bringing the endangered folk culture and traditional crafts of western Hunan to the wider world...

Showcasing an International Flair

In 2014, Charming Xiangxi stepped into Italy

In 2015, Charming Xiangxi made an appearance in the Czech Republic

In 2016, Charming Xiangxi moved people in Iraq

In 2017, Charming Xiangxi brought warmth to Russia

In 2018, Charming Xiangxi dazzled in Nepal

Charming Xiangxi was invited by the Ministry of Culture for five consecutive years to engage in cultural exchange activities during the “Happy Spring Festival” abroad. In 2014, Charming Xiangxi stepped into Italy, gaining praise in Malta; in 2015, it made its mark in the Czech Republic, stunning Bulgaria; in 2016, it moved people in Iraq and sparkled in Jordan; in 2017, it brought warmth to Russia and made an impact in Ukraine; in 2018, it dazzled in Nepal. With a strong sense of cultural confidence, we uphold the mission of cultural inheritance, showing all our friends through our actions that “what belongs to our nation belongs to the world!”

In the “Trying on Miao Attire to Select a Groom” segment of the Song of Joy and Sorrow for a Wedding program, enthusiastic friends from multiple countries took to the stage to engage in interaction. The collision of cultures had the audience in stitches, pushing the ambiance of Tujia wedding customs to its peak. From the melodious folk songs of Sangzhi to the vibrant and spirited Tujia dances; from traditional and classic primitive theater to exhilarating aerial acrobatics, every program is infused with the intense flavors of western Hunan, captivating our foreign friends.

With its distinctive charm, western Hunan culture is presenting its traditional ethnic culture and customs to guests from near and far.

Notably, early last year, the Argentine Ambassador to China, Diego Ramiro Guelar, and his wife visited the site of Charming Xiangxi, where they enjoyed the folk performance and took part in an experience of wearing traditional ethnic attire.

Wearing splendid costumes, they joined the performers of Charming Xiangxi in dancing the “Baishou dance” of the Tujia people. They also appreciated the Miao drum welcoming performance and the toast dance, fully experiencing the warmth of the ethnic minorities from western Hunan. This trip to western Hunan offered both a distinctive experience of ethnic art and a fresh interpretation of the international appeal of Charming Xiangxi.

Down-to-earth and Heartfelt

In its 24 years of operations, Charming Xiangxi has welcomed 20 million visitors, featuring 3,200 seats. On average, each performance receives more than 17 rounds of applause, at least 2 instances of tears and 4 moments of screaming...

This is a grand performance that entertains everyone, from elderly folks in their eighties to toddlers of three. Fundamentally, it is because we are deeply rooted in our local culture and remain down-to-earth. As stage technology and popular tastes evolve and improve, an increasing number of performances are embracing “hard-hitting” techniques, heavily incorporating cutting-edge sound and lighting technology to create diverse visual effects on stage. Spectacular effects and grand scenes have gradually become standard features of performance arts. In contrast, Charming Xiangxi remains dedicated to presenting a stage with a “folk-style performance”. The performers focus on a style that is “full of life and warmth”, staying grounded in the folk culture and everyday life. We turn away from formulaic arrangements and performances, striving to use minimal cold, high-tech stage technology while maintaining impactful presentation. We aim to convey the spirit of the people in western Hunan through the simplest ethnic emotions and the truest authentic human presence. We hold a steadfast belief that the emotional connections between people are unmatched by any machine.

Charming Xiangxi awaits your arrival. Get ready for a magnificent symphony, poised to deliver a passionate performance just for you!