Innovative cultural shows fascinate holidaymakers across China

A wide range of live performances that put a modern twist on traditional Chinese culture have been staged in Chinese cities during the five-day May Day holiday which started on Wednesday, entertaining visitors in various innovative ways.

In Beijing, the play "Deng Shichang" created by the National Center for the Performing Arts tells the story of the heroic naval officer of the late Qing dynasty (1644-1911) who sacrificed his life during the First Sino-Japanese War fought between China's Qing Empire and the Empire of Japan in 1890s. Audience were deeply touched by Deng's patriotism and bravery.

With a history of over 400 years, Pingtan, a musical/oral performance art form popular in southern China, has been received by residents in north China's Tianjin city during the holiday. The Shanghai Pingtan Troupe has added many trendy elements and internet slang words into their storytelling, making the performance more enthralling.

"It's cheerful, witty, humorous and intriguing. We try to choose characters and stories that people are familiar with," said Gao Bowen, leader of the troupe.

Captivating performances of folk opera has been drawing in visitors to the Xi Opera Museum in Wuxi City, east China's Jiangsu Province. The small theater here is packed with opera enthusiasts of all ages.

"Xi Opera is a national intangible cultural heritage. We hope that more and more people will like Xi Opera and the various traditional opera cultures of our nation," said Wang Hongming, deputy director of Xi Opera Theater of Wuxi City.

Immersive performances integrating live show with natural landscape are also mesmerizing tourists in several parts of the country.

The Wuyi Mountains in the eastern province of Fujian is famous for its beautiful mist-shrouded peaks and high-quality teas such as Dahongpao. An outdoor musical "Impression Dahongpao" against the backdrop of breathtaking Wuyi sceneries has wowed tourists from home and aboard.

Another outdoor performance with the picturesque rural landscape as the backdrop has offered visitors a visual feast in Wuyuan County, east China's Jiangxi Province, which is dubbed "China's most beautiful countryside." Drawing inspiration from ancient poems, the show describes an idyllic picture of life in ancient rural China while showing unique local customs.

"It displays vivid individual stories, allowing tourists to understand local customs and feel the charm of traditional Chinese culture," said Xie Meiling, acting director of the live performance.

Innovative cultural shows fascinate holidaymakers across China

The restricted rescue capacity of the local civil defense department due to the war has compelled local residents to rescue their loved ones trapped beneath the debris with their bare hands in Zeitoun Neighborhood in the south of Gaza City.

Israeli military operations in Gaza led to widespread destruction of buildings and a significant rise in civilian casualties.

In Zeitoun, no intact buildings remain in sight. Amidst the wreckage, survivors painstakingly comb through ruined buildings and debris, desperately searching for their lost homes and families.

The continuous bombs from the Israeli army impeded the evacuation of local people.

"We couldn't contact my child's family or his neighbors at all. After the situation calmed down, we came here and tried to rescue them from the ruins, but we couldn't make it. Today, we brought some simple tools, but only one child was rescued. We couldn't save the rest because the situation here is too difficult," said a local resident.

Israeli army's prolonged military operations weakened Gaza's civil defense, resulting in restricted capabilities. A total of 69 rescue workers died in Israeli attacks by far.

The lack of fuel recently further hampers civil defense and rescue efforts.

"Due to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, there is currently an obvious shortage of civil defense personnel. The biggest problem we face is the lack of equipment, which prevents us from rescuing missing people under the ruins. The Israeli army usually bombs the roofs of buildings (leading to building collapse), which requires professional large machines and equipment such as trucks and excavators," said Mahmoud Basal, spokesman for the Civil Defense Service in the Gaza Strip.

With no other option, some survivors had to save their family members and friends by their own hands.

"Young people volunteer for rescue, using the simplest tools such as hoes, axes and pliers. We can at least lift out the bodies, including women and children, so that their families can identify and bury them," said another local resident.

People in Gaza exhaust efforts in rescuing family members in Israel-ruined buildings

People in Gaza exhaust efforts in rescuing family members in Israel-ruined buildings