Famed director Zhang Yimou's latest landscape drama "Impression Hainan" debuted on Monday, on Hainan island. The southern island province is a popular tourist destination in China, hailed for its sunshine, sea, sand and great atmosphere. It's the latest project for Zhang, who had a busy 2008 when he directed the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony.
As the brain child of Zhang Yimou and colleagues Wang Chaoge and Fan Yue, the landscape drama "Impression Hainan" premiered on the island on Monday night. It's Zhang's newest project in the field of landscape dramas , after three previous works: "Impression Sister Liu", "Impression Lijiang" and "Impression West Lake".
Zhang Yimou, the chief director of "Impression Hainan" said, "We aim to offer a relaxed show combining entertainment and leisure, and let the audience embrace nature. We want to release the energy of young audience. If the audience feel all these things, the show is successful."
Aside from coconut trees and scenic beaches, Hainan conjures up memories of the "Red Detachment of Women", a revolutionary story which took place here and with a well-known ballet adaptation on stage. Zhang and his team mixed ballet and drama into the show.