Renowned Chinese director Zhang Yimou has begun producing his second outdoor landscape drama. Impression -- West Lake will be held at East China's famous West Lake. Last year, Zhang's first production of its kind Impression -- Sister Liu opened on the Lijiang River in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and proved to be sensation. Now the ambitious, maverick filmmaker is hoping for more of the same in his latest production.

Zhang made the announcement on the banks of captivating West Lake. The House of Flying Daggers director has finished draft scripts, which call for a dreamy, artificial rainfall on the placid water surface.

Rejoining the production crew are Wang Chaoge and Pan Yue, who also worked with Zhang for Impression -- Sister Liu. But Zhang says putting together Impression -- West Lake will be much more difficult. He says West Lake has much more history and notoriety, which means it will take more effort to convey the area's rich cultural meaning.

Zhang said, "We set our foothold on the traditional culture, on the famous poems and prose. I think creating the show is like a beyond-time dialogue, which is a very enchanting process. The Impression -- West Lake features quite different characteristics from the Impression -- Sister Liu, which is like the differences between a man and woman."

The outdoor landscape drama Impression -- West Lake is expected to cost 100-million yuan, or more than US$ 12 million. The show debuts next April and will be a staple of tourist attractions at West Lake, with daily shows.

(CCTV October 18, 2005)