The third season of the musical variety show "Everlasting Classics" premiered on China Central Television (CCTV) on January 26, the second day of the Chinese New Year.

Produced by China Media Group (CMG), the show presents traditional Chinese literature and poetry in a modern way.

Starting with a Chinese-style song combining the work of two great poets in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Wang Wei and Li Bai, veteran singer Na Ying and popular actor and singer Xiao Zhan performed a duet.

For Na Ying's solo, a song adapted from Qing-dynasty (1644-1911) poet Nalan Xingde's "Changxiangsi," or "The Lasting Nostalgia," reveals a sense of reluctance of the poet to leave home and the feeling of loneliness and nostalgia amid a snowstorm.

When performing Qing-dynasty painter and calligrapher Zheng Banqiao's poet "Bamboo and Stones," Xiao Zhan wowed the audience with passionate rock.

In the eyes of Chinese, bamboo represents tenacity and ever-greening vitality. The rock-style "Bamboo and Stones" just showed young people's vigor and power, as juror Kang Zhen commented.

The show also featured Italian children's choir Piccolo Coro Dell'Antoniano, who sang to poetry written by Tang-dynasty poet Du Fu depicting the bright scenery of spring. 

The second episode was broadcast on January 27.