A gala staged on the West Lake on the first night of the G20 summit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province on Sunday not only captured the attention of Chinese, but also won acclaim from foreign guests for its excellent incorporation of international elements.[Special Coverage]
The 45-minute cultural performance, titled Most Memorable is Hangzhou, featured a symphony concert and performances staged on the lake, which made the performers appear as if they were floating on top of the surface of the lake.
The title of the gala was taken from a poem by Bai Juyi, a prestigious poet from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) who paid tribute to Hangzhou's picturesque scenery as well as its rich culture in verse.
The gala was produced by a team led by Chinese director Zhang Yimou and was based on Zhang's Impression of West Lake show, a performance that combines music, dance and a light show with the lake as a natural backdrop.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan along with foreign leaders of state and their spouses attended the performance.
The mood among foreign journalists in the media center near the gala was joyful that night, as several foreign reporters told the Global Times that they were impressed with the way the show combined traditional Chinese culture with Western culture.
Chinese audiences throughout the nation watched the gala on China Central Television, with many praising the performance and the beauty of the city on social media.
"The beauty of Hangzhou is no stranger to most Chinese, but it went beyond our expectation this night. I am both happy and proud that the entire world can enjoy the glamor of the city during the summit," netizen "lucydaniu" posted on Sina Weibo.
Many netizens singled out the Russian ballet Swan Lake and the opening symphony - Spring-River Flower-Moon Night, which is also based on an ancient poem - as two major highlights of the opening event.
