This year marks the 70th birthday of the People's Republic of China as well as the 20th anniversary of the Macao Special Administrative Region's return to the motherland. The government is keen on boosting development even further this year in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.

The country's national broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) has staged a feast of traditional opera performances in Hong Kong to mark the occasions.

It is the 13th year that CCTV has promoted cultural exchanges between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, in a program known as the "Aerial Theater."

Peking Opera masters and Cantonese Opera celebrities from Beijing and Guangdong Province brought classics familiar to audiences in Hong Kong, such as the well-known traditional Peking Opera "Silang Visits His Mother," which has been performed for over a century. The Cantonese Opera "Madame Pistil" is another performance, starring Zeng Xiaomin, vice director of the Guangdong Cantonese Opera Institute.

"Many of our old fans are coming. I'm really happy to see my old friends here. When it comes to traditional operas, we have the same roots, either in Guangdong or in Hong Kong and Macao. I hope the 'Aerial Theater' can promote Cantonese Opera across China," said Zeng.

The Hong Kong Culture Center and the Macao Culture Center will also record all six opera performances staged from April 5 to 12.