Folk opera celebrates 91st anniversary of PLA's establishment

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02:25

In celebration of the 91st anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Aug. 1, an opera telling the story of the Red Army on the Long March in the Tibetan area is being staged in Beijing.

"Jinsha River" tells the story of the Red Army taking its Long March through a Tibetan area in 1935 and people living in the area along the river.

The advance detachment of the Red Army, under the command of Jin Ming, breaks through the enemy’s defense line and crosses the Jinsha River.

Artists perform on stage of the opera "Jinsha River". /Photo via National Center for the Performing Arts

Lead actor Wang Zenan, who plays Jin Ming, said he was touched by the soldiers.

"Climbing snow-capped mountains, and trudging through marshlands… this show helps me get a sense of the hardship the Red Army soldiers had to endure and the touching bond they had with the Tibetan people,” said lead actor Wang Zenan.

During the making of the show, director Liao Xianghong and the creative team visited the location where the events had transpired.

"When I actually went to the snowy mountains that the Red Army climbed, I was amazed by how the Red Army soldiers could achieve this. It really was a mission impossible. And I feel obliged to tell their stories to a wider audience and pass on the Long March legacy," said Liao.

The opera is adapted from a novel of the same name, written by military author Chen Jing, based on his personal experiences.

An artist performs on stage of the opera "Jinsha River." /Photo via National Center for the Performing Arts

Staying true to the novel, the creative team integrated the Tibetan region’s distinctive music and culture with the show.

"Composer Lei Lei collected a lot of Tibetan musical elements such as folk songs while we visited Yunnan. Other traditional music styles are also featured in the opera," said Liao.

The stage uses multimedia projections to illustrate the magnificent landscape and natural environment of the Tibetan Plateau.

"Jinsha River" runs at the National Center for the Performing Arts through Saturday.