Traditional Chinese opera festival in Anhui builds cultural connections

A series of traditional Chinese opera performances is underway across Anhui province as part of the "Hundred Operas Enter Anhui — Stars Shine in Hefei" program.

Guided by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Anhui Provincial Committee, the event will run through the 2026 Chinese New Year.

The program includes 26 selected productions encompassing nine major genres, including Peking Opera, Kunqu Opera, and Huangmei Opera. It also features performances from nine recipients of the Plum Blossom Performance Award— China's top honor for theater artists.

Anhui's local Huangmei Opera has been a particular highlight. Plum Blossom Performance Award winner Wu Meilian's performance of "The Heavenly Match" received strong audience response for her portrayal of the classic love story. Another well-known Huangmei Opera, "The Female Prince Consort," staged on Oct. 30, continued to draw attention for its theme of women's independent pursuit of their aspirations —an idea that has resonated with audiences at home and abroad.

To promote cultural tourism, the organizers introduced an innovative initiative, allowing audience to use performance tickets to visit major tourist attractions in Anhui such as Mount Huangshan, Mount Jiuhua, and Hongcun village free of charge. The tickets can also be used to receive discounts on dining and accommodation.

"We came from Guangzhou to watch the opera live, and also experienced the hospitality of Hefei," said an attendee surnamed Li. Another visitor surnamed Yang from Sichuan commented, "Watching a good opera and then visiting Mount Huangshan made the trip very memorable."

The event has also drawn international interest. Before a Kunqu Opera showcase on Oct. 10, four international students of Anhui Agricultural University from Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Benin, and Russia visited the backstage area of the Hefei Grand Theater. They tried traditional opera makeup and learned about the Water Sleeves techniques, which are used to convey emotion in performances.

Laurent, a French teacher at Anhui University, attended a Kunqu performance after hearing about it from his students. He said the performance is quite different from French opera and rich in Eastern aesthetics, adding that the event serves as a platform for cultural exchange.

"Art is a universal language," said one of the organizers. "The program serves not only as a gathering of traditional Chinese operas, but also as a channel for cultural dialogue."