[Zhangjiajie] Charming Xiangxi Show Ticket (Experience Intangible Cultural Heritage Performances + Enjoy Miao Songs and Dances + Immerse Yourself in the Soul of Xiangxi Culture)

Nestled among the towering peaks of Zhangjiajie's Wulingyuan, *Enchanting West Hunan* has spent 25 years and over 10,000 performances becoming a "living textbook" for understanding Xiangxi culture. This cultural epic, rooted in the traditions of the Tujia, Miao, Yao, and other ethnic groups, rejects mere technical spectacle. Instead, it reveals the authentic folk essence and heartfelt humanity of West Hunan, allowing every audience member to touch its soul and warmth. Here, no scenes are fabricated—only culture organically grown from daily life: the Tujia hand-waving dance conceals prayers for harvest, the clinking of Miao silver ornaments embodies artisan dedication, and the melodious Sangzhi folk songs carry mountain breezes. As filmmaker Feng Xiaogang remarked, "Only in Zhangjiajie can you witness such a performance"—its foundation being the living heritage and beliefs passed down through generations of Xiangxi people.

Unlike stages relying on holographic projections, the setting here features only silhouettes of stilt houses, the cold gleam of silver ornaments, and the warm glow of bonfires—each beam of light solely illuminating the starlight in the performers' eyes. Free from assembly-line performance routines, the actors pour out their hearts in local dialects and slang, with even the sweat in their acrobatic moves radiating genuine vitality.

Outside the theater, the intangible cultural heritage market is filled with a dazzling array of cultural and creative items such as Miao painting round fans and Tujia brocade pendants. Watch as skilled silversmiths demonstrate their forging techniques on-site, and travelers can even try their hand at Miao embroidery stitches. After the evening performance, join in the bonfire hand-waving dance, following the actors' rhythm to dance and take home the vibrant atmosphere of Xiangxi.

From the primitive simplicity of the Maogusi Dance to the delicate emotions of the Crying Marriage Songs, from the shimmering silver ornaments to the warmth of the bonfire, *Charming Xiangxi* has long transcended the definition of a mere "performance." It is a living museum of Xiangxi's intangible cultural heritage, a cultural love letter nestled among mountains and rivers, inviting every traveler to immerse themselves in the rhythms and melodies, embracing the millennia-old cultural essence of Xiangxi.

• The prelude begins with the rhythmic drumbeats of Miao ethnic maidens, their crimson drumheads trembling with each dance move. Their powerful body language, illuminated by firelight, embodies the reverence for life held by the people of western Hunan. The theme song, performed by a Hunan-born singer, carries melodies infused with the fresh mountain breeze.

• "Wild Maogusi": Actors clad in coarse animal hides recreate the labor scenes of Tujia ancestors through primitive hunting dances. Though the lyrics sung entirely in ancient Tujia language are difficult to translate, the leaping movements convey the ancestors' reverence for nature. This performance is hailed as a "living fossil of primitive drama."

• "Border Town · Cuicui": Following Shen Congwen's prose, Cuicui's Tujia brocade skirt sways under the moonlight as the folk song "The Mulberry Tree Lights the Lantern Tower" from Sangzhi rises. The lyrics "My love went to war while I stay home" embody the loyalty of western Hunan's people, materializing the romance from literature.

• "Chasing Love": Adapted from the Yao ethnic group's "climbing for love" custom, young men climb up the wooden stilt house pillars, with each step embodying passion and courage. This scene once debuted on CCTV's Spring Festival Gala as a native Hunan original ecological program, becoming a "classic that needs no inspection."

• "Xiangxi Corpse Driving": Shedding the horror of legends, this performance narrates the loyalty and bravery of Xiangxi men during wartime through the theme of "returning souls to their homeland." Under dim lighting with somber music, actors' distinctive gaits embody the spirit of "love for homeland." The theater specially reminds audiences to take care of seniors and children.

• "Songs of Bittersweet Bridal Tears": The singing style that "weeps openly while rejoicing secretly" intertwines reluctance to leave parents with anticipation for new life. The lyrics "stitching clothes thread by thread" are exquisitely moving, fully expressing the tenderness and resilience of Xiangxi women.

• From the rhythmic clinking of silversmiths in the daytime market to the powerful drumbeats on the night stage and the laughter around the bonfire, Charming Xiangxi has long transcended the definition of a mere "performance." It serves as a bridge between nature and culture, a link between intangible heritage and visitors, inviting every traveler to discover the timeless charm of Xiangxi amidst the silhouettes of its karst peaks.

• The middle rows in Zone A offer better views, allowing you to enjoy both the full stage panorama and performers' details; the sides of Zone B provide great value for money, ideal for photo-taking.
• Enchanting West Hunan Show Program
• Fire Drum
• Border Town: Cuicui
• Chasing Love: Climbing the Stairs
• "The Mulberry Tree and the Lantern Stand"
• "Wild Maogusu"
• "The Corpse Procession in Western Hunan"
• "Love at the Daughter's Festival"
• "Songs of Joy and Sorrow at the Wedding"
• Helong Feast
• Tima Divine Songs
• Performances are subject to the daily schedule