The classic dance drama Flower Rains Along the Silk Road is staged at the Gansu Grand Theatre on July 4. [Photo provided to silkroadexpo.gogansu.com]

Dancers performed a classic scene from the Chinese dance drama Flower Rains along the Silk Road to mark the 45th anniversary of its debut at Gansu Grand Theatre in Lanzhou, capital of Northwest China's Gansu province.

The performance revives the artistry of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) along the historic Silk Road. It depicts a moving story of a good-hearted Chinese father and his daughter who risk their lives to help a foreign businessman along the ancient Silk Road. With a unique artistic style, the drama showcases the beautiful Dunhuang murals and recreates the profound Dunhuang culture and the prosperity of the busy ancient Silk Road.

The production of Flower Rains Along The Silk Road first started in 1978 when the artists sent by Gansu provincial Party committee arrived in Dunhuang in June of that year and wrote the first draft of the grand dances of Dunhuang Melodies.  

In February 1979, the rehearsal was a success; on May 23, the performance went on stage officially and was included in the performance program for the 30th anniversary of the founding of the New China in Beijing on Oct 1. The performance won the "First Prize of Creation" and the "First Prize of Performance" awarded by the Ministry of Culture.