Impression Sanjie Liu is the large-scale outdoor night performance that takes place on the Li River about 4 kilometres north of Yangshuo, using the actual karst peaks and river as its stage. Zhang Yimou conceived it as an "environmental performance" — one where the landscape is as much a part of the production as the performers — and the result is unlike anything inside a conventional theatre.
The show runs nightly, with shows typically at 7:30pm and 9pm (times vary seasonally). Tickets cost 250 to 680 yuan depending on the seating section; the premium seats at the front are closest to the water but the mid-section views of the full illuminated landscape are arguably better. Book ahead, especially from April through October. The performance lasts about 70 minutes. Wear something warm in autumn and winter, as the river location is always cooler than Yangshuo town.