Chinese Opera Festival to Showcase Classic Films Inspired by Three Kingdoms from May to September 2025.

Chinese Culture Festival 2025 to screen selected Chinese opera films on Three Kingdoms

The Chinese Opera Festival (COF), as a core part of the Chinese Culture Festival (CCF) 2025, will launch the screening programme "Chinese Opera Film Shows" from May to September. The programme will showcase 10 classic Chinese opera films from the 1950s to 1980s, featuring Cantonese opera, Peking opera and Yuediao opera. To resonate with the theme of "Three Kingdoms" of this year's COF, most selected films are inspired by the stories of "Romance of Three Kingdoms", with a special focus on the plays related to "Zhou Yu Thrice Humiliated", "Invoking the East Wind", "A Meeting of Heroes" and "The Battle at Changbanpo", making a delightful contrast between the stage performances and film screenings for similar repertories at the festival.

Details of the Cantonese opera film screenings are as follows:

"How Hung Ming Thrice Defeated Chow Yu" (1956)

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Date: May 31 (Saturday)

Starring: Sun Ma Si-tsang, Yam Kim-fai, Ng Kwun-lai, Choi Zhen-chu

Synopsis: Zhuge Liang (Hung Ming) is entrusted to persuade Zhou Yu (Chow Yu) to form an alliance against the State of Wei, but Zhou repeatedly schemes to make things difficult for him. Later, after Shu seizes control of Jingzhou, Zhou attempts various stratagems to reclaim the territory, all of which are cleverly thwarted by Zhuge. Coupled with repeated military defeats, Zhou dies of frustration and despair.

"The Beauty of the Warring States" (1959)

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Date: June 14 (Saturday)

Starring: Ho Fei-fan, Lam Dan, Leung Sing-por, Mak Bing-wing

Synopsis: General Fan Yuqi of Qin is entrusted to invite Crown Prince Dan of Yan and his consort to Qin as guests. The King of Qin breaks his promise and imprisons them instead. Fan helps the royal couple escape successfully. Infuriated, the King launches an assault on Yan on a false claim. Crown Prince Dan accepts the courtier Tian Guang's recommendation to send Jing Ke to assassinate the King.

"Luck Sun" (1957)

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Date: July 12 (Saturday)

Starring: Fong Yim-fun, Yam Kim-fai, Mak Bing-wing, Poon Yat-on

Synopsis: Cao Cao decrees Lady Zhen is to marry Cao Pi. Heartbroken, Cao Zhi loses his creative spirit. Later, Pi ascends the throne. He believes rumours suggesting that Zhi is the father of his child, and forces Lady Zhen to take poison and banishes Zhi to a remote land, forcing the lovers apart forever.

"Lui Bo Captures Diu Sim" (1956)

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Date: August 30 (Saturday)

Starring: Sun Ma Si-tsang, Tang Bik-wan, Lau Hark-suen, Pak Lung-chu

Synopsis: Dong Zhuo holds sway in the imperial court and renders the young king a mere figurehead, aided by the formidable warrior Lü Bu (Lui Bo). Concerned for the state, the songstress Diao Chan (Diu Sim) and minister Wang Yun devise a honey trap. Wang promises Diao's hand to Dong and Lü. Diao begs Lü to rescue her by killing Dong. Meanwhile, Diao tearfully reports to Dong that Lü had taken liberties with her, thus turning the partners into enemies.

Details of the Chinese opera film screenings are as follows:

Peking opera film "Invoking the East Wind" (1957)

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Date: July 9 (Wednesday)

Starring: Xiao Changhua, Ma Lianliang, Tan Fuying, Ye Shenglan

Synopsis: Zhou Yu and Huang Gai stage a ruse, pretending to defect to Cao Cao's army and execute a fire attack. Cao is suspicious, and dispatches Jiang Gan to investigate. Jiang mistakenly believes that there is internal strife in Eastern Wu, and convinces Cao that Eastern Wu poses no real threat. In the end, Zhuge Liang successfully invokes the easterly wind, giving the Wu-Shu alliance the upper hand in battle.

Peking opera film "A Meeting of Heroes" (1957)

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Date: July 30 (Wednesday)

Starring: Ma Lianliang, Tan Fuying, Ye Shenglan, Qiu Shengrong, Yuan Shihai, Xiao Changhua

Synopsis: At Xiakou, Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu come together to resist Cao Cao's advances. To spy on their coalition, Cao dispatches Jiang Gan to visit Zhou under the guise of friendship. Zhou sees through the ruse and organises a grand feast for civil and military elites. He deliberately let Jiang steal a forged letter of surrender from Cao's general and escape back to Cao's camp. The letter leads the suspicious Cao to mistakenly believe that there is treachery within his ranks and to execute several of his own generals.

Peking opera film "The Sworn Brothers' Reunion at the Old City" (1976)

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Date: August 6 (Wednesday)

Starring: Gao Shenglin, Yuan Shihai, Li Shizhang

Synopsis: After Shu's defeat by Wei, Guan Yu is forced to surrender and imprisoned by Cao Cao. Later, he learns of Liu Bei's whereabouts, and escapes to reunite with Liu. On hearing that Zhang Fei is stationed at the Old City, Guan rushes there, but Zhang is suspicious of Guan's intentions. Guan shows his unwavering loyalty by killing Cai Yang of the Cao army who arrives in pursuit. Zhang realises his grave mistake and apologises. The brothers are reunited.

Yuediao opera film "Zhuge Liang Mourns Zhou Yu" (1980)

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Date: August 27 (Wednesday)

Starring: He Quanzhi, Shen Fengmei, Chen Jing, Mu Baicheng

Synopsis: Zhou Yu is determined to reclaim Jingzhou. His negotiations with Zhuge Liang prove fruitless, triggering a fierce battle in which Zhou suffers a crushing defeat and dies of grief at Baqiu. Zhuge travels to Wu to attend Zhou's memorial. General Zhang Zhao lays an ambush with the intent of capturing Zhuge. Zhuge points out to Zhang that any strife between the states of Shu and Wu would only benefit Cao Cao. At that moment, Cao is advancing with an army of hundreds of thousands. Zhang quickly apologises to Zhuge, and they begin discussing a joint plan to repel the invasion.

Peking opera film "The Goddess of Luo River" (1955)

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Date: September 3 (Wednesday)

Starring: Mei Lanfang, Jiang Miaoxiang

Synopsis: Cao Pi crowns Lady Zhen as royal consort, but she is drawn to the literary brilliance of his younger brother, Cao Zhi. The two begin a forbidden romance in the face of grave danger. Upon discovering Lady Zhen's infidelity, Pi executes her in a fit of rage. Years later, Zhi dreams of a divine calling from the Goddess of River Luo, and he goes to the appointed place, astonished to find Lady Zhen waiting for him. She has become the Goddess of River Luo, a celestial being, forever separated from the mortal realm.

Peking opera film "The Battle at Changbanpo" (1976)

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Date: September 10 (Wednesday)

Starring: Yuan Shihai, Li Jialin, Yu Dalu

Synopsis: Liu Bei's retreat from Xinye is pursued by Cao Cao's forces through the night at Changbanpo. Liu becomes separated from his troops and family. Zhao Yun charges into the enemy camp alone and rescues the local governors Jian Yong and Mi Zhu. He also fights valiantly to protect Lady Gan and Liu's infant son, A Dou, leading them safely through the encirclement.

Traditional Chinese subtitles will be provided for the lyrics of the Cantonese opera films. Simplified Chinese subtitles will be provided for the lyrics of the Chinese opera films "A Meeting of Heroes", "The Sworn Brothers' Reunion at the Old City", "Zhuge Liang Mourns Zhou Yu", "The Goddess of Luo River", and "The Battle at Changbanpo". "Invoking the East Wind" will have no subtitles.

The above-mentioned Cantonese opera films will be screened at the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Space Museum at 7.45pm, and the Peking opera and Yuediao opera films will be screened at the Cinema of the Hong Kong Film Archive at 7.30pm. Tickets priced at $70 per screening are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. Group booking discount and package booking discount are available for purchasing selected CCF stage programmes, the "Chinese Opera Film Shows" of the COF 2025 and the "Legacy and Vision: Conversations with Chinese Cultural Masters" lecture. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7325 or visit www.ccf.gov.hk/en/programme/chinese-opera-film-shows/ .

The programme will also feature two sessions under the "Chinese Culture for All: A Special Performance Series", featuring the film of Peking opera "A Meeting of Heroes" (1957), to be held at 11am and 2.30pm on September 8 (Monday) at the Cinema of the Hong Kong Film Archive. Free admission specially for local primary and secondary school students to allow them to have the opportunity to appreciate the traditions and essence of Peking opera through the timeless masterpiece. Interested schools can call 2268 7325 for details.

In addition, extension activities including talks on "Three Kingdoms" Opera, the Art of Kunqu Opera and the Culture of Chinese Opera, Masterclasses and Demonstration Talk of Kunqu Opera, the "Three Kingdoms in Chinese Opera" Exhibition, meet-the-artists sessions, a backstage tour and a demonstration performance of Peking opera will be held during the CCF period to promote the artistry and culture of Chinese traditional opera. For more information about the COF 2025, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/chinese_opera/programs_1839.html.

The CCF, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Chinese Culture Promotion Office under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, aims to promote Chinese culture and enhance the public's national identity and cultural confidence. It also aims to attract top-notch artists and arts groups from both the Mainland and other parts of the world for exchanges in Chinese arts and culture. The CCF 2025 will be held from June to September. Through different performing arts programmes in various forms and related extension activities, including selected programmes of the COF, "Tan Dun WE-Festival", film screenings, exhibitions, as well as community and school activities and more, the festival provides members of the public and visitors with more opportunities to enjoy distinctive programmes that showcase fine traditional Chinese culture, thereby facilitating patriotic education and contributing to the inheritance, transformation and development of traditional Chinese culture in Hong Kong. For more information about programmes and activities of the CCF 2025, please visit www.ccf.gov.hk.

Chinese Culture Festival 2025 to screen selected Chinese opera films on Three Kingdoms Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Chinese Culture Festival 2025 to screen selected Chinese opera films on Three Kingdoms Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Chinese Culture Festival 2025 to screen selected Chinese opera films on Three Kingdoms Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Chinese Culture Festival 2025 to screen selected Chinese opera films on Three Kingdoms Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Update on chikungunya fever

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health announced that, as of 5pm today (January 11), no new cases of chikungunya fever (CF) had been recorded.

Latest surveillance data

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Hong Kong has recorded a total of 82 confirmed CF cases last year. Among them, 11 were local cases, and the rest were imported cases.

Since the beginning of 2025, and as of December 10, 2025, a total of 502 264 CF cases and 186 CF-related deaths have been reported in over 40 countries/territories. Cases have been reported in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Although the northern hemisphere has entered the winter season, temperatures in subtropical and some temperate regions remain elevated due to climate change, creating favourable conditions for mosquito breeding. In addition, CF outbreaks continue to occur in many countries worldwide. The risk of imported cases persists. Members of the public should check the situation of the destinations before travelling abroad, especially when travelling to Southeast Asian countries.

Government's comprehensive follow-up actions

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Given that some local cases of CF have visited the Tsing Yi Nature Trails or the surrounding area in November last year, the trails are currently closed until further notice. Relevant government departments continue to conduct large-scale mosquito control and prevention efforts along the trails, and the CHP appeals to the public not to enter the area in order to reduce the risk of contracting CF and to avoid exposure to chemicals or interfering with the mosquito control operations. Since the confirmation on December 10, 2025, of a case involving a person who had visited the Tsing Yi Nature Trails on November 30, 2025, no further local cases have been recorded to date. The CHP continues to urge individuals who have recently hiked along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails to seek medical attention as soon as possible if they develop relevant symptoms and to call the enquiry hotline (Tel: 2125 2373), which operates from 9am to 6pm.

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has been continuously conducting intensive fogging operations to eliminate adult mosquitoes along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails and the surrounding area. At suitable locations, large ultra-low volume foggers have been deployed, and a robot dog is being put on trial to enhance operational effectiveness. The FEHD has also set up new mosquito trapping devices, cleared discarded containers and garbage that could cause stagnant water, and applied larvicide oil or larvicides in areas with stagnant water that cannot be removed immediately. The FEHD has been collaborating with the Kwai Tsing District Office, the Lands Department and the Drainage Services Department to strengthen efforts in eliminating potential mosquito breeding sites along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails. Pamphlets have been distributed to hikers in the area, urging citizens to be vigilant against mosquito infestations and take personal protective measures. The FEHD has also held meetings of the interdepartmental task forces on anti-mosquito work across districts to discuss the latest developments regarding the situation and plan accordingly to co-ordinate relevant departments and stakeholders in strengthening mosquito prevention and control measures in areas under their purview.

Continuously strengthening prevention and control

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The FEHD and relevant departments have comprehensively enhanced the mosquito control operations in Hong Kong since July last year, and this has continued. Among these, the FEHD has conducted vector investigations and targeted mosquito control operations against the imported and local cases. In light of the local case, the FEHD has immediately conducted follow-up actions, including:

carrying out intensive fogging in scrubby areas within a 250-metre radius of the relevant locations to kill adult mosquitoes;

carrying out inspections of the locations, removing stagnant water, applying insecticides and disposing of abandoned water containers every week with a view to preventing mosquito breeding; and

enhancing public education efforts through organising health talks, setting up mobile education stations, and distributing publicity leaflets.

The abovementioned measures will be continued. Furthermore, the Government will further enhance the mosquito control efforts in addition to the existing measures.

Preventive measures to be taken by the public

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Members of the public should use DEET-containing insect repellents or other effective active ingredients properly to prevent mosquito bites, but the following precautions should be taken when using them:

read the label instructions carefully first;

apply right before entering an area with a risk of mosquito bites;

apply on exposed skin and clothing;

use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children (for children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent);

apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent;

reapply only when needed and follow the instructions; and

in addition to DEET, there are other insect repellents available on the market containing different active ingredients, such as IR3535 and picaridin. When using any insect repellent, the public should follow the usage instructions and precautions on the product label.

The FEHD also appeals to members of the public to continue to stay alert and work together to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures early, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, changing water in vases and scrubbing their inner surfaces, removing water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, and properly disposing of containers such as empty cans and lunch boxes. The FEHD also advises members of the public and property management agencies to keep drains free of blockage and level all defective ground surfaces to prevent the accumulation of water. They should also scrub all drains and surface sewers with an alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.

The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems, and may visit the following pages for more information: the CF page of theCHPand theTravel Health Service, the latestTravel Health News,tips for using insect repellents, and the CHPFacebook Page,Instagram AccountandYouTube Channel, and also theMosquito Prevention and Control dedicated pageof the FEHD.

Source: AI-found images