Youth version of "The Peony Pavilion" staged in Peking University to mark its 20th anniversary

Chinese Kunqu opera masterpiece "The Peony Pavilion" (the youth version) was put on stage in the country's prestigious Peking University from Saturday to Monday, to mark the 20th anniversary performance of its debut.

Kunqu Opera, one of the oldest forms of opera in China with a history of hundreds of years, was placed on the list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2001.

Written by Chinese playwright Tang Xianzu (1550-1616) of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), "The Peony Pavilion" tells the story of the romance between a daughter of a wealthy official and a talented but poor young scholar.

The youth version of the opera on the other hand was created by Suzhou Kunqu Opera Theater in east China's Jiangsu Province and Taiwan's famous playwright Pai Hsien-yung. It has received great reactions across Taiwan.

Debuted in Taipei, China's Taiwan region, 20 years ago, the opera has toured at home and abroad for over 500 performances, attracting about one million audience members, with most being young people.

The youth version of "The Peony Pavilion" focuses on the inheritance and innovation of traditional culture, drawing an increasing number of young audience members into the theater.

"We respect the classics but do not adhere rigidly to them, and we utilize modern elements without abusing them. Our production maintains the traditional components while carefully infusing modern stage aesthetics into the classic framework, for a successful combination of the traditional and the contemporary," Pai said.

The combination of ancient and modern arts entertain the audience greatly and receive rounds of applause.

"After I entered high school, I watched online videos of the youth version of 'The Peony Pavilion' online and immediately fell in love with it. This sparked my desire to make classical opera a primary focus of my research. Now, on the occasion of its 20th anniversary, I am deeply moved to witness the live performance of the original cast," said a Kunqu enthusiast named Ye Zi.

Youth version of "The Peony Pavilion" staged in Peking University to mark its 20th anniversary

The Global Mayors Dialogue opened in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province on Tuesday, bringing together mayors and senior city officials from across Europe, Asia, and North America to have in-depth exchanges on practical approaches to developing the ice and snow economy.

Held under the theme "Connecting the World with Ice and Snow, Win-Win Cooperation for a Shared Future", the three-day event gathered mayors, deputy mayors, and mayoral representatives from cities across the globe, including Canada, Finland, Germany, Greece, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Türkiye, focusing on the ice and snow economy, cultural integration, smart city development, heritage preservation, and urban governance.

The event featured a main dialogue and a scenario-based dialogue salon to foster in-depth exchanges and spark new ideas. Guests are invited to visit iconic sites such as the Harbin Ice and Snow World and attend the opening ceremony and trade events of the Harbin Ice and Snow Economy Expo, which are showcasing Harbin's achievements in building an ice and snow economy brand, strengthening international exchanges and cooperation, and inheriting ice and snow culture.

Harbin, called China's "ice city", has turned its long, cold winters into a major tourist attraction. Last winter, it welcomed a record 90.36 million visitors, generating 137.22 billion yuan (about 19.44 billion U.S. dollars) in revenue, a year-on-year increase of 16.6 percent.

International mayors gather in Harbin to explore ice and snow economy