Editing Zhang Yimou (section)

=== Stage direction ===
Starting in the 1990s, Zhang Yimou has been directing stage productions in parallel with his film career. In 1998, he directed an acclaimed version of [[Giacomo Puccini|Puccini]]'s opera ''[[Turandot]]'', firstly in [[Florence]] and then later [[Turandot at the Forbidden City]], [[Beijing]], with [[Zubin Mehta]] conducting, the latter documented in the film ''The Turandot Project (2000)''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C01E3DF143FF932A3575AC0A96E958260|title= Turandot - Directed by ZHANG Yimou, at the Forbidden City Beijing|author =Eckholm, Erik | newspaper = [[The New York Times]] | date= 1 September 1998| access-date=21 August 2008}}</ref> He reprised his version of ''Turandot'' in October 2009, at the [[Beijing National Stadium|Bird's Nest Stadium]] in [[Beijing]], and plans to tour with the production in Europe, Asia and Australia in 2010. In 2001, Zhang adapted his 1991 film ''Raise the Red Lantern'' for the stage, directing a [[ballet]] version.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://russian.china.org.cn/english/MATERIAL/70826.htm|title=Director Zhang Yimou Fine Tunes 'Red Lantern' Ballet|website=russian.china.org.cn}}</ref>

Zhang has co-directed a number of outdoor folk musicals under the title ''Impression''. These include ''Impression, Liu Sanjie'', which opened in August 2003 at the Li River, Guangxi province;<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-08/17/content_255620.htm|title="Liu Sanjie" performed in natural scenic setting| newspaper = [[China Daily]] | date = 17 August 2003| access-date=21 August 2008}}</ref> ''Impression Lijiang'', in June 2006 at the foot of [[Jade Dragon Snow Mountain]] in [[Lijiang, Yunnan|Lijiang]], Yunnan province; ''Impression West Lake'', in late 2007 at the West Lake in [[Hangzhou]], Zhejiang province; ''Impression Hainan'' in late 2009, set in [[Hainan Island]]; and ''Impression Dahongpao'' set on Mount Wuyi, in Fujian province. All five performances were co-directed by Wang Chaoge and Fan Yue.

Zhang also led the production of [[Tan Dun]]'s opera, ''[[The First Emperor]]'', which had its world premiere at the [[Metropolitan Opera]] on 21 December 2006.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/01/arts/music/01lips.htm|title=The Great Wall Rises (and Falls) at the Met |author1=Morris, Lois B.  |author2=Lipsyte, Robert  |name-list-style=amp |newspaper = The New York Times |date=1 October 2006|access-date=21 August 2008}}</ref>
In 2017 he directed an innovative ballet titled "2047 Apologue", where the 12 minute solo finale ''The Weaving Machine'' was choreographed by Rose Alice Larkings and including hundreds of LED lamps. Onstage as Rose Alice danced the 12 minute solo was an elderly Chinese weaver at her loom, highlighting the old crafts and industries which remain so important in a world of new technology.