Yueju Opera 'New Dragon Gate Inn' wows audience

Traditional Chinese opera has been revitalized in recent years, frequently breaking out with spectacular performances and showing strong artistic prowess. An immersive Yue Opera, "New Dragon Gate Inn," performed by Xiao Bai Hua, one of the most remarkable Yueju Opera troupe from Zhejiang Province.

The popularity of an online live broadcast has allowed this Yueju Opera to quickly transcend the scope of traditional performances. The livestream has not only attracted the fervent attention of millions of viewers but also sparked heated discussions online, with over 14,000 comments.

Chen Lijun and Li Yunxiao, the two"post-90s born" actors who play the leading roles, have become the focus of the discussion, and their brilliant performances have garnered the affection of numerous audiences.

The "New Dragon Gate Inn" Yueju Opera draws inspiration from the classic martial arts film of the same name. The story is set against the backdrop of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and tells the tale of martial arts heroes encountering skilled agents of the traitors at the Dragon Gate Inn located in a vast desert. Highlighting the love and hatred between characters such as Zhou Huai'an, Jia Ting, Jin Xiangyu, and Qiu Moyan, the Yueju Opera version has presented the story in a unique way.

Innovation may be an important reason for this Yue Opera to be popular. Unlike traditional opera stage, the immersive setting of "New Dragon Gate Inn" places audiences within an inn with secret passages. The plot breaks away from the traditional focus on the love stories and delves into the theme of the martial world. What’s more, the young team incorporates short videos into the production, successfully generating widespread attention.

The success of "New Dragon Gate Inn" comes not only from the charm of the work itself, but also from the cultural heritage and artistic confidence of the Yue Opera genre.

Thousands of fans from all over the country flocked to Hangzhou to witness Chen Lijun's performance. Chen Lijun stated, "Opera is engraved in the DNA of the Chinese people. After a small stone is cast, the DNA awakens. I hope I am that small stone."

Through the success of "New Dragon Gate Inn," more people have come to realize that Yueju Opera can tap more opportunities for the future of Chinese traditional opera.