Impression West Lake is Hangzhou's big theatrical spectacle, performed on a hidden stage just below the surface of West Lake. Lights, music, dancers, and the lake itself are used as scenery, so the show is less about plot than mood: mist, reflections, silhouettes, and the city turning its most famous landscape into performance.
It is touristy, and some travellers will prefer a quiet evening walk along the causeways, but the production is undeniably tied to Hangzhou rather than interchangeable entertainment. Book ahead in busy seasons and bring a layer; sitting by the water after dark can be cooler than the daytime lakefront suggests.