A scene from “Flower Rain on the Silk Road.”
A revival of “Flower Rain on the Silk Road,” the longest-running Chinese classical dance drama, will meet Shenzhen audiences later in April.
Inspired by the magnificent Dunhuang frescoes, the show premiered in 1979 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. It pays tribute to the cultural exchanges and friendships forged along the ancient Silk Road.
Set in the early Tang Dynasty (618-907), the story unfolds against the backdrop of war-disrupted trade routes, following the intertwined destinies of a Chinese painter named Zhang, his daughter Yingniang, and a Persian merchant, Inus.
The award-winning production was adapted into a film in 1982. Revivals followed in 2008 for the Beijing Summer Olympics and in 2016 for the inaugural Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo.
Widely regarded as a masterpiece of Chinese dance drama, the show has been performed 3,874 times over four decades, captivating over 5 million viewers worldwide.
Time: 8 p.m., April 22-23
Venue: Shenzhen Poly Theater, Nanshan District (深圳保利剧院)
Metro: Line 2, 11 or 13 to Houhai Station (后海站), Exit E