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2026.11.04 13:34 GMT+8

Want to experience authentic Huangmei Opera? Here’s why Anqing is the place to go

Updated 2026.11.04 13:34 GMT+8
CGTN

Huangmei Opera performers take center stage during a live show in Anqing. /CGTN

Huangmei Opera performers take center stage during a live show in Anqing. /CGTN

Audience members of all ages watch the performance intently from their seats. /CGTN

Audience members of all ages watch the performance intently from their seats. /CGTN

A performer prepares traditional makeup backstage before going on. /CGTN

A performer prepares traditional makeup backstage before going on. /CGTN

Archival black-and-white photos on the theater walls show past icons of Huangmei Opera and historic productions. /CGTN

A host from CGTN Travelogue tries on traditional Huangmei Opera stage makeup and attire. /CGTN

A host from CGTN Travelogue tries on traditional Huangmei Opera stage makeup and attire. /CGTN

If you’re wondering where to experience Huangmei Opera, one of China’s most beloved traditional performance arts, look no further than Anqing in eastern China's Anhui Province. This riverside city is the historic heartland of the art form.

But why Anqing?

Originating from tea-picking folk songs in neighboring Hubei Province, Huangmei Opera truly came into its own in Anqing. Here it absorbed local dialects and drew inspiration from everyday life, giving rise to celebrated works such as The Heavenly Match (Tian Xian Pei), the classic tale of a heavenly fairy who falls in love with a mortal man.

More importantly, in Anqing, Huangmei Opera has never been confined to theater stages. It is part of the city's everyday rhythm. From backstage preparations and grand theater performances to impromptu park gatherings and snatches of song from neighborhood streets, the melodies of opera run through daily life.

For visitors, watching a Huangmei Opera performance in Anqing isn’t just about enjoying a show - it offers a direct window into​ authentic local culture.

Swipe through the gallery to see how Anqing and Huangmei Opera are intertwined, on stage and off. 

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