Director and producer Mei Shuaiyuan is known for shijing yanchu, or shows that use real scenery in open-air performances with hundreds of performers to display local culture and traditions.[Photo provided to China Daily]

"I have been thinking about staging shows outside China for a long time. I went to lots of places to seek out venues that could combine performances, nature and history," says Mei, 59.

"Vietnam is one of my favorite countries. Many places there, especially in the coastal areas, such as Danang, attract visitors from around the world mainly due to the beautiful landscapes, and diverse and rich cultural heritage."

Mei's connection with Vietnam is personal.

In 1994, when he was president of the Guangxi Zhuang Opera Troupe in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, Mei visited Vietnam many times and was impressed by its natural scenery and culture.

"The scenery in Guangxi and Vietnam is similar. When I saw the fishermen's boats on the Lijiang River in the day and their lights at night, I thought these sights looked like settings for performances," he says.

"Culture is best seen in the prettiest scenery rather than on an artificial stage. They enhance each other's beauty. This is also about Chinese philosophy: harmony between humans and nature."

In 2003, he collaborated with director Zhang Yimou to produce his first open-air show in Guangxi, Impression Liu Sanjie, which was a huge success.

The inspiration for the show came from the legend of Liu Sanjie, a folk artist who sang to defy evil and help the poor living along the Lijiang River in Yangshuo county, in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.