Splendid light, fireworks brighten Qingdao’s night

World
Europe

00:59

A splendid light and fireworks show brightened the night sky of Qingdao, the coastal city that hosts the 2018 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, on Saturday, as part of the celebration for the opening of the summit.

Directed by Zhang Yimou, one of the country’s most renowned veterans in the field, the show was aiming at combining the SCO Summit gala, the dazzling coastline of Qingdao’s night view, as well as the light and fireworks show, to bring a visual feast for the world leaders and guests who have gathered for the summit.

A still from the Qingdao SCO Summit gala live broadcast /CGTN Photo

Ahead of the show, Zhang Yimou spoke with CGTN’s reporter Su Yuting during a live broadcast and said that the most difficult part as well as the most distinctive part of the show was that it was on the sea.

“The most fantastic part of the show is that it was set on sea, and the city’s landscape is its setting. It presents a magnificent view,” said Zhang. “The city’s light show will be part of the performances.”

Zhang added that it is the first time that the city’s light show was applied as part of the background for a gala.

04:09

It was not the first time for Zhang Yimou to head such an event. Most of his previous works have impressed not only the Chinese people, but the world as a whole.

Being a master in light and shadow, he was also the chief director of the Beijing 2008 Olympics opening ceremony, the G20 Summit gala in 2016, and the Beijing eight-minute show at the PyeongChang 2018 closing ceremony.

Here are some of his previous shows:

The opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics no doubt left a deep impression in the minds of people from around the world. The show attracted at least four billion viewers from around the world, the largest number in Olympic history at that time. Many were amazed by the variety and beauty of the ancient oriental culture.

File of the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympics /VCG Photo

The G20 Hangzhou Summit Gala, dubbed the “Impression West Lake Show,” also featured a light show in combination with music, fountains and dance performances. Part of the stage was set in water as well, presenting a cultural feast that blended the East and the West.

File of the G20 Hangzhou Summit gala directed by Zhang Yimou /VCG Photo

The most recent memories still lingering in people’s minds might be the Beijing eight-minute show at the closing ceremony. With the high-tech devices, the eight-minute show was not only a demonstration of the modern China, but also a warm welcome to the world for the upcoming Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

File of the Beijing 8-minute show at the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Olympics 2018 /VCG Photo

Referring to the SCO Summit gala, Zhang Yimou told CGTN earlier that it was far more than a cultural performance, it was also a way of declaring best wishes for a bright future for the SCO member states, as well as the world.