Top Hangzhou Opera Performances

When in Hangzhou, a must is to see the Legend of Song Dynasty show at Songcheng Park. This romantic performance is 2 hours long, and is offered at 2pm and 7:20pm every day. The story follows the folkloric story of the Legend of the White Snake, the Butterfly Lovers, and stories of General Yue Fei’s defense against Jin invaders. It is a visual feast!

The show blends Chinese poetry, opera, classical music, dance, and tea culture into a poetic portrait of Hangzhou. What makes the performance truly different is the engineering hidden beneath the lake. The stage is an elevating platform that rests about 80 centimeters below the water during the day, allowing boats and the natural lake scene to remain undisturbed. At showtime, it rises to just 3 centimeters beneath the surface, so performers seem to stand and move on the water itself. The production uses advanced holographic projection, artificial mist, laser lighting, and towering rain curtains that rise from the lake. A nationwide first-of-its-kind retractable rain shelter protects the audience while preserving the open-air experience. Each spectator also benefits from a personal surround-sound system, delivering clear audio without disturbing the tranquil lakeside environment. This performance is a public outdoor show that is not private.