The large-scale dance drama "The Heavenly Horse from the Silk Road" is one of the theater's repertoires. Based on the Bronze Galloping Horse unearthed in Wuwei, Gansu Province, the story is set in the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD) when the country endeavored to explore the vast western region, looking for the fine horse breed -- The Heavenly Horse.

As a large-scale dance opera with a strong local flavor of Western China, the performance displays the magic and beauty of the country's remote western regions using different scenes that inform audiences of the profound and rich cultural phenomena in the west, and the spirit of exploration and forging ahead. Incorporating the Han dance style and the postures on the famous Dunhuang frescoes, the opera vividly reveals the special flavor of the dance performance in the west.

The feelings, behavior and fate of the main characters including, Biaokun, Jinmei, Tianma (The Heavenly Horse) and Jinbao weave a magical and solemn lyric of the opera. The tragic fates of Biaokun and Jinmei revealed their heroic spirits and sad yet sweet love story. The personified figure of The Heavenly Horse expresses the pursuit of freedom and the upward faith and idealism of human beings, inspiring audiences to further speculate one's own future and yearning under its guidance.

Brief Introduction:

Prologue: Through the vast Gobi desert in Western China along the ancient Silk Road, many generations of Chinese people had been working hard to maintain the road for centuries.

Scene l: In an imperial edict, the Emperor of the Han Dynasty calls on his subjects to search for the Heavenly Horse said to have been raised on the western frontier. While a handsome reward was offered for the successful completion of the mission, only one of the many brave men could be chosen. The final competition for the mission came down to Jinbao and Piaokun, who won the fight. However, Jinbao was filled with such extreme jealousy that he would not give up easily. In attempt to triumph over Piaokun, Jinbao tried to cut him with his sword, but he was stopped by his sister, Jinmei, who was deeply in love with Piaokun. Ashamed of his deeds, Jinbao accepted his defeat and accompanied Piaokun on his journey to the west.

Scene 2: At the legendary land, The Heavenly Horse gallops across the vast grasslands. Piaokun finds the horse and the two become instant friends. Again, Jinbao's jealousy sets in and he tries to spoil Piaokun's mission by setting fire to the grass. Piaokun struggles heroically to protect the horse but is shot by Jinbao's arrow.

Scene 3: Jinmei and other village girls wait anxiously for news. Upon his return Jinbao says Piaokun died on the way to the west. Hearing the news, Jinmei becomes very sad, and decides to travel west to find Piaokun's body. Unfortunately, she falls into a deep gully and has a hallucination: She sees Piaokun and the Heavenly Horse playing happily in heaven. Finally, the two lovers overcome many difficulties to bring home the Heavenly Horse.

Scene 4: In front of a pavilion built to welcome the Heavenly Horse, the triumphant heroes return with the horse. Jinbao's scheme is exposed and he is executed by the Heavenly Horse's mighty kick .