The gentle elegance of Huangmei Opera

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Lan Xi performs an excerpt from Huangmei Opera alongside her mother, Li Fengping, continuing a family tradition rooted in the art form. /CGTN

Lan Xi at the Anhui China Huangmei Opera Museum, engaging with the history and cultural legacy of the genre. /CGTN

Traditional opera helmets and headpieces on display at the Anhui China Huangmei Opera Museum, reflecting the craftsmanship and aesthetics of Huangmei Opera. /CGTN

Traditional opera helmets and headpieces on display at the Anhui China Huangmei Opera Museum. /CGTN

Lan Xi views an exhibition at the Anhui China Huangmei Opera Museum. /CGTN

A Huangmei Opera–themed lantern displayed at Zai Fen Residence in Anqing, Anhui Province. /CGTN

Huangmei Opera originated from folk tea-picking songs in China and, through generations of popular transmission and stage practice, gradually evolved into a mature and distinctive form of traditional Chinese opera. It is renowned for its accessible language, fresh, flowing melodies, and sincere, delicate emotional expression. By balancing everyday vitality with lyrical beauty, Huangmei Opera has become one of the most beloved traditional operatic genres among audiences.

Renowned actress Lan Xi comes from a family deeply rooted in Huangmei Opera, with both her parents well-known performers of the genre in their local area. Immersed in the art form from an early age, she has developed a profound understanding of its aesthetic sensibilities and artistic spirit.

Widely recognized for her role as Shen Meizhuang in the acclaimed television drama Empresses in the Palace, Lan Xi has remained deeply devoted to Huangmei Opera. Beyond her work in television and film, she continues to engage with the art form, seeking to preserve its gentle, refined aesthetic while renewing its vitality through contemporary expression.

(All photos taken by CGTN's Han Xu, Wang Hongjie and Zhang Yuying.)

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