Impression West Lake, now billed as Enduring Memories of Hangzhou, is the show most visitors book for a Hangzhou evening. It is directed by the filmmaker Zhang Yimou and performed on a stage built just beneath the surface of the lake on the north-west shore, with the water, the hills and the lights as the set. The production premiered in 2016 at the G20 summit held in Hangzhou, and the public version has run since May 2017. It combines vocal music, dance and opera with a soft, dreamlike staging that draws on Hangzhou’s poems, legends and landscapes, including the White Snake story, and it lasts about sixty-five minutes. It is a visual show rather than a narrative one, so you do not need to understand Chinese to enjoy it. Tickets come in several seat grades, with the better seats in the centre. Because it is open-air, the experience depends on the weather and the season, and November nights are cool.
How to visit
The venue is on Beishan Road on the north shore of the lake, a short taxi ride from the main hotels. The performance is in the evening, and here is a standard seat ticket. Because the show can vary with the season, check the current schedule and the seat grade before you book. A tour that adds a transfer is also available, which is handy because the venue is a little out of the way and taxis at the end of the night can be scarce.
What to expect
You sit facing the water, and the stage rises and sinks beneath the surface so performers appear to walk on the lake. The staging uses light, mist and music, and the show runs without an interval. It is a spectacle, so expect quiet moments and a crowd of tour groups. If the weather is bad, the show can be cancelled, and organisers describe refunds for extreme-weather cancellations, so check the terms on the booking page.
Making the most of it
Wear warm layers and bring a light jacket, because the seats are outdoors and the lake breeze can be cold, particularly in late autumn and winter. Arrive early to find your seat and to see the lake at dusk before the show. Photography is usually allowed without flash, but check the venue rules, and leave a little time afterwards to find a taxi.
Combine it sensibly
Pair the show with an early evening walk along the lakeshore or a dinner at Hefang Street, and arrange your ride back before the show ends.
What to expect
The experience
An open-air, roughly 65-minute water-stage show of music, dance and light, seated facing the lake.
Best time
An evening performance, checking the current schedule first; spring and autumn are comfortable.
How long
About one hour for the show, plus travel.
Tips
Dress warmly for cool evenings, arrange your ride back in advance, and check the schedule and weather terms before booking.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Visitors who want a polished, visual evening show that needs no Chinese.
- Families
- School-age children enjoy the spectacle, though the cool, open-air setting is tough on very young ones.
- Couples
- Book a better seat grade for a clearer view, and wrap up warm.
- Pair with
- A dinner at Hefang Street before the show, or a lakeside stroll at dusk.
- Time needed
- An evening.
Good questions
Is Impression West Lake still running?+
The show has run daily in the evening in recent years, but it is outdoors and can be cancelled for weather. Check the current schedule when you book.
How long is the show?+
It lasts about sixty-five minutes, without an interval.
Who directed the show?+
It was directed by the filmmaker Zhang Yimou. It premiered in 2016 at the G20 summit in Hangzhou.
Do I need to speak Chinese?+
No, the show is mostly visual, with music, dance and light on the water. You can enjoy it without understanding the lyrics.
What should I wear?+
Warm layers, even in autumn, because the seats are open-air and the lake breeze is cool. A light waterproof helps in drizzle.
