Wu Fenghua, playing xiaosheng (young man) in Yueju opera, rehearses backstage at a theater in Shaoxing, East China's Zhejiang province, January 14, 2025. [Chen Hongyu/CGTN]

Yueju Opera or Shaoxing Opera, one of the five major types of Chinese opera, is recognized as China's national intangible cultural heritage. Born in the late 19th century in Shaoxing city, East China's Zhejiang province, this lyrical art evolved from local folk ballads into a sophisticated opera. Initially performed by male troupes, it underwent a revolutionary transformation in the 1920s when female artists began dominating the stage. Now, a distinctive feature of Yueju Opera is women playing male roles. Yueju Opera thrives in Wu language-speaking regions, including Zhejiang, Shanghai and southern Jiangsu, while captivating audiences nationwide and beyond.

The photo collection mainly features Wu Fenghua and students from the Xiaobaihua Yueju Opera Art Heritage Center in Keqiao district, Shaoxing city. Wu is famous for playing xiaosheng, the role of a young man, in stories like Butterfly Lovers, also known as the Chinese Romeo and Juliet. She is also a two-time recipient of the Plum Blossom Award, one of the highest theatrical awards in China. 

The center led by Wu and others is at the forefront of preserving and innovating this art. For example, they adapted Shakespeare's Macbeth into General Ma Long, blending Western drama with Yueju Opera style.