For the people of Kaifeng in central China's Henan province, the grandeur of the Song Dynasty still lingers in their thoughts. A thousand years ago, their city was the prosperous Song capital. Now, a performance reminiscent of that ancient time has been staged in Kaifeng, with the scenery of the city as its backdrop.

Entitled "Great Song", the show takes a wide look at the amazing period when the Song Dynasty was at the zenith of its power.

It leads the audience to embark on a spiritual odyssey into the timeless splendor of this intellectually and artistically powerful epoch.

"Song Ci", a genre of classical Chinese poetry conforming to a rigorous pattern, reached its literary heights during the Northern Song Dynasty. The show broadcasts some of the familiar masterpieces of Song Ci to reinforce the show's artistic concept.

An audience member said, "It's novel to blend the literary form with the performance. With the lighting and audio effects, it's a great show."

Zhang Rensheng, director, said, "It's been a big leap forward for this year's show compared to previous ones. The progress is evident in the lighting, staging, music as well as audio effects. It has become more appealing to the eyes and ears."

On top of promoting the local culture of Kaifeng, the show also aims to boost tourism in the city, especially night life.

(CCTV April 9,2008)