[Photo via VCG]

The 10th Chinese Opera Culture Week (the "Week" for short) will be held from September 29 to October 5, with the Beijing Garden Expo Park as its main venue.

The opening ceremony will take place on September 29 at the Beijing Garden Expo Park, presenting productions of various genres, including Peking Opera, Pingju Opera, Hebei Bangzi, Yu Opera and Cantonese Opera. Chinese and foreign amateur opera enthusiasts will perform together on the same stage.

The Grand Opera Showcase (精品大戏展) will feature 10 national award-winning opera productions, including classics such as "Dream of the Red Chamber" (红楼梦; Kunqu Opera), "The Girl Jiujin" (九斤姑娘; Yue Opera), and "Monkey King and Havoc in White-Bone Cave" (三打白骨精; Wu Opera).

The Opera Carnival (戏曲嘉年华) will feature pop-up opera performances, concerts, poetry recitations and singing sessions, and opera-film screenings. At the Opera Fun Bazaar (戏精吉市), visitors will be treated to creative cultural products, food and beverages, with interactive experiences awaiting. During the Week, a special exhibition titled "A Decade of Splendor: Glorious Opera Moments" (十年华章·大戏风华) will open at Wanping Fortress, showcasing 10 years of the traditional Chinese opera sector via physical exhibits and video footage.

Targeting young audiences, a call for submissions has been launched for university students, centered on the combination of opera and AI. It covers three tracks: visual art, short video and copywriting.

In partnership with the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts, this year's Week has developed the brand-new "Ximai" (戏脉, which roughly means "opera heritage") AI agent. Digital technologies will support the collection, organization, and dynamic inheritance of Chinese opera cultural resources.

During the Week, additional opera screenings and exhibitions will also be available at Wanping Fortress and Changxindian Cinema. Visitors can enjoy discounts on local accommodation, dining, and creative souvenirs by presenting their ticket stubs of performances.

(Source: The Beijing News)