China boasts a wide variety of dramatic arts, and every genre possesses outstanding actors of its own. Over the weekend, these artists all flocked to the booming metropolis of Shanghai to attend the grand finale of the "White Magnolia Drama Performing Arts Awards."

A dazzling dance, called the "Blooming White Magnolias," opened the awards ceremony. But that performance was not enough to calm the nerves of the nominees anxiously waiting for the results to be announced.

In the end, the leading actor award went to 10 artists, including Wang Ping from the Tianjin Peking Opera Troupe and Wang Jinwen from Ningbo Yongju Opera Troupe.

The supporting actor award was shared by Hu Gang from Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe, Wei Chunguang from Shanghai Drama Art Center and three other artists.

To inject more fresh blood into China's dramatic arts, the organizers also arranged two new categories for young performers. They were leading actor and supporting actor awards, which were picked up by Zhang Jingjing from Shanghai and Li Xianshu from Jiangsu respectively.

(CCTV December 2, 2003)