Director and producer Mei Shuaiyuan, who loves the legend and folklore associated with the country's scenic mountains and rivers, sees much potential in landscape shows. Provided to China Daily

The originator of the highly acclaimed Impression shows Mei Shuaiyuan is still creatively inspired by the country's folklore and stunning scenery. Mei Jia reports

Many people have heard of director Zhang Yimou's Impression series and some may even have seen one of the shows. But few know that the series is actually the brainchild of director and producer Mei Shuaiyuan.

He introduced the concept of an open-air performance with the landscape as a dramatic part of the show.

Mei loves the legends and folklore associated with the country's scenic mountains and rivers and over the last decade, the 53-year-old has staged many of the country's legends and folktales in the natural environment where they originated.

"The open-air show is an original Chinese production which strengthens the harmony between human beings and nature," Mei says. "Half of the work is done by nature."

Impression Liu Sanjie (2003), a collaboration with the director Zhang Yimou, was the first show of the series. It was a sensational success and Zhang went on to direct four other Impression shows.

In one of Mei's latest shows, The Fox Fairy on Mount Tianmen, Mei for the first time presents a musical. With leading Chinese composer Tan Dun as the music director and 530 performers, the show is based on a Hunan folktale about the forbidden love between a fox fairy and a woodchopper.

With an investment of 120 million yuan ($17.6 million), Mei built the central stage in a valley at the foot of Mount Tianmen in Zhangjiajie, Hunan province. When the show is performed at night, interlacing lights among the hilltops make the picturesque valley a natural and imposing stage set. At the climax of the show a 60-meter bridge spans the valley 40-m-high in the air providing a dramatic setting for the lovers to meet.