Xiang opera: Flowing through time like the Xiang River

Xiang opera is a traditional Chinese opera from central China's Hunan Province with roots dating back to the Ming Dynasty, blending local dialects, folk music and stylized performance into a vibrant regional art form beloved for its expressive singing and dramatic storytelling. Xiang opera was listed on China's national intangible cultural heritage list in 2006, recognizing its cultural significance and longstanding role in community life.

Its vast repertoire draws on history, legend and folklore, including classic works such as "Paying Tribute to the Moon (Baiyue Ji)," "The Story of Pipa (Pipa Ji)" and "The Story of the White Rabbit (Bai Mian Ji)." Another iconic piece is "Princess Baihua (Baihua Gongzhu)," featuring the Princess Baihua, a heroic and emotionally compelling figure whose narrative of loyalty, love and tragic resolve has captivated audiences for generations. In staging this role, young artists like Cao Weizhi, featured in the photos, bring fresh energy and dramatic nuance to the classic character, helping to keep Xiang opera vibrant for modern audiences.

As Cao once said, Xiang opera "flows on like the Xiang River," a major river in Changsha City, the capital of Hunan Province, carrying history, emotion and cultural memory from generation to generation.

(All photos by CGTN's Chen Hongyu and Han Xu)