With government support, China's rich and varied traditional operas have seen a revival in recent years. In Beijing, the National Academy of Chinese Theater Arts is greeting more than 25,000 applicants for its 500 or so places. The school is looking to change the country's performing arts landscape.

This year, the National Academy of Chinese Theater Arts continues to offer a range of tuition-free courses to prospective performers. The higher education institution has expanded enrollment for classes on Peking Opera, Kunqu Opera, opera education and operatic accompaniment. 

"All of our students will spend five to six years at the academy. Their study and training will be systematic and exhaustive. By the time they graduate, they will be equipped with all the stagecraft of traditional Chinese operas. For each opera variety, we've formulated a specific curriculum. Our goal is to provide a solid basis for their future careers on stage," said Wang Shaojun, the dean of Acting Department of National Academy of Chinese Theater Arts.

Most applicants are in teenagers. Shi Jiayu, who is 16 years old, has been learning Peking Opera for over eight years. Applying as a student of Peking Opera and Kunqu Opera, she sees the profession as her calling.

"I've found traditional operas to be wonderful. I just want to learn from them, and master all the stagecraft. It's handed down to us from our ancestors. It's up to us to offer it to a wider audience," said Shi.

For the 2019 academic year, the school has added new bachelor-of-arts courses for three minor opera traditions.  

"For local operas, different regions have their own requirements. We've put the stress on those operas designated as pieces of China's national intangible heritage. In recruiting students, we've consulted local cultural authorities. And the information we've gathered has greatly boosted our confidence. We're delighted to contribute to the prosperity of local opera traditions," said Wang.

There are over 100 regional branches of traditional Chinese opera today. Dozens of them are still performed regularly before enthusiastic crowds of dedicated fans.