In celebration of the first day of the Hangzhou Asian Games torch relay, a cultural performance took place along the shores of West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang on September 8, 2023.
A group dance celebrating both West Lake and the classic Yue Opera "Legend of the White Snake," used the picturesque lakeside scenery as its backdrop. Drawing inspiration from Yue Opera, a nationally-recognized form of intangible cultural heritage in China, the dancers blended history with modern performance forms and the serene charm of West Lake's landscapes. This curtain-raiser event depicted the poetic and picturesque essence of West Lake, adding a note of cultural vitality to the buildup atmosphere in Hangzhou ahead of the Asian Games.