Peking Opera was included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2010. Though a traditional art, it is becoming more popular among young people in China nowadays, thanks to attempts by Peking opera performers to modernize the art.

"New Dragon Inn" is representative of martial arts films from the 1990s. And it was adapted and performed on the Peking Opera stage this year. Artist Shi Yihong plays two major characters from the work – the inn owner Jin Xiangyu and the swordswoman Qiu Moyan.

SHI YIHONG PEKING OPERA ARTIST "Jin Xiangyu is different from any other women in the Peking Opera repertoire. Like a wild rose in the desert, she is fierce and fervent. I changed my way of reading the lines to show her sharp personality."

It's the first time a martial arts film has been adapted into Peking Opera. According to the director, the adaptation was created with the fundamentals of traditional opera in mind.

HU XUEHUA, DIRECTOR PEKING OPERA 'NEW DRAGON INN' "Peking Opera has its own music, posture and format, and the musical structure in Peking Opera is very strong. We should keep its basis while modernizing, and should not forget old audiences while attracting new ones. We need to do it on parallel tracks, to make a touching drama that has a high aesthetic level."

WANG PEIYU PEKING OPERA ARTIST "The stage performance of Chinese operas is restrained, integrated and rational. The opera performance can show the aesthetic appreciation of Chinese culture. People consider it as noisy, slow or old, but it's not like that."

Wang Peiyu works hard to promote Peking Opera to the public. She gives lectures and performs in various events, and through demonstrating Peking Opera vocal tips, gestures and expressions, she has spread her knowledge of the opera to many people.

"She's super cool. I've got a good understanding of the Peking Opera now. I think I will be more touched to watch an opera after listening to this lecture."

Fans who cannot attend the events are keen on watching the live-stream online, where they can still interact with Wang Peiyu. Using social media to promote opera is so welcomed by young people that an online show can attract as many as over 100-thousand viewers.

WANG PEIYU PEKING OPERA ARTIST "Many middle school and university students, as well as some young people that have just graduated, say they've learned something new about Peking opera after listening to my lectures. I think we should build a new relationship together with the audience, to let more people have the opportunity to choose to participate in this art. Besides playing piano, watching films, and dancing, now they have another choice, which is watching Peking Opera."

Peking Opera is transforming due to the efforts of the artists. In May, a Peking Opera show "Farewell to My Concubine", performed by famous artist Zhang Huoding, was staged in Beijing. To get a ticket, many people waited in line starting at 3 am.  

Wang Peiyu says there are two types of people in the world - those who like Peking Opera and those who don't yet know they like Peking Opera. With the efforts of the artists, Peking Opera has been rejuvenated and entered another golden age.