Opera festival marks anniversary of Huizhou troupes' Beijing arrival

　　Anhui Province in eastern China announced a series of cultural events on Monday to commemorate the 235th anniversary of the arrival of Huizhou opera troupes in Beijing, a pivotal 18th-century cultural exchange that led to the formation of Peking Opera.

　　The program, unveiled at a press conference in Beijing, includes theatrical performances, publications and academic activities organized by Anhui's publicity department and cultural institutions.

　　An opera performer plays against the backdrop of traditional Chinese architecture. /Photo provided to CGTN 

　　A centerpiece will be the performance of "Forbidden City · Harmony of Huizhou Melodies," jointly produced by the Palace Museum and the Anhui Performing Group. The show will feature historical operas from the Qing Dynasty court repertoire and is set to tour nine cities following its debut in Beijing.

　　From late September to February 2026, the "Operas Gather in Anhui · Shining Hefei" festival will be hosted in Hefei, capital city of Anhui Province, featuring more than 200 performances across multiple Chinese opera genres including Peking, Kunqu and Huangmei operas.

　　Ticket holders for festival events will receive free admission to Anhui's major tourist attractions including Mount Huangshan and the ancient villages of Xidi and Hongcun in an effort to boost cultural tourism.

　　The events aim to promote traditional Chinese opera among younger audiences while celebrating one of China's most significant historical cultural milestones.