This week, I’m so happy to be sharing my thoughts with you from Hangzhou, also known as ‘paradise on earth’. In this city, we’re wrapping up the last leg of this year’s Christmas Magic tour of China. Our last two shows will be performed at Hangzhou Theatre, which seats 1,500 people.
Having spent all week here, I can understand why this famed ‘city of heaven’ was Marco Polo’s favourite city in China. In the 13th century, he described Hangzhou as “the finest and most splendid city in the world.” And now, centuries later, Hangzhou’s West Lake, the imperial garden with pavilions, bridges, temples and a spacious lake for boating, is still beautifully preserved.
Right here, on the West Lake, Senior Pastor Lawrence and I were most fortunate to catch a dazzling open-air evening spectacle of music, light, and dance. It was staged entirely on the waters of the beautiful West Lake, with natural mountains and real water as its backdrop. The stage lay just three centimeters below the surface of the water, which created a stunning illusion of the actors seemingly dancing on the waters of the lake. This live performance was created and directed by renowned Chinese film director, Zhang Yimou, and was first performed for the G20 Summit in 2016. It was subsequently opened to the public, and we were absolutely delighted to have witnessed it before it closes on 16 December for a winter hiatus.
This tour of China has been truly amazing. We’ve had great turnouts at our previous three cities – Shanghai, Chongqing and Xiamen, and I believe Hangzhou will not disappoint. Thank God for going before us and paving the way, and thank you, Church, for praying for us throughout this journey. We can’t wait to be back home!
- Senior Pastor Nina Khong