The final competition for the 10th Chinese Theater Award - Plum Performance Award kicked off in Shanghai on Thursday, with 17 performances spanning 11 genres of traditional Chinese opera to be staged.
Hailed as the highest honor for Chinese theater performing arts, the award is jointly sponsored by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the China Theater Association and the publicity department of Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China.
At the opening ceremony, the modern Peking opera "Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy," based on the liberation war, was performed by artists from the Shanghai Jingju Theater Company at the Shanghai Grand Theater.
"There are so many types of traditional Chinese opera, like Puju opera, Taizhou Luantan, Liuzi opera, Qinqiang opera, and many others. I want to watch all the 17 performances," said an audience member.
During the 14-day event, a range of activities blending traditional opera with modern elements will be held across Shanghai, including pop-up exhibitions and runway performances, offering both tourists and local residents an immersive cultural experience.
"The Plum award can only truly flourish when it is deeply rooted in the people and performed for them. This is an excellent exploration of how high-quality traditional operas can reach and serve the public," said Chen Yongquan, vice chairman of the China Theater Association.
The winners of the Plum Performance Award will be unveiled on May 21.
Final competition of Chinese Theater Award kicks off in Shanghai
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that Iran has obtained extensive documents and evidence linking the recent unrest across the country to the U.S. and Israel, noting that Mossad agents attempted to direct such "terrorist acts."
Araghchi said at a press conference in Tehran that since Dec 28, 2025, Iran had seen peaceful demonstrations organized by industry associations and economic professional. In the following days, more participants joined, and the situation gradually escalated from peaceful rallies into violent clashes.
Beginning on Jan 8, terrorists and armed groups carrying weapons entered protest sites and opened fire on police and civilians, with the aim of steering demonstrations toward violence, bloodshed and chaos, he said.
"Israeli media reports are rife with claims that Israel has designed and conducted operations in Iran. Mr. [Mike] Pompeo, who was Trump's CIA director, said on his X that 'Happy New Year to every Iranian in the streets. Also to every Mossad agent walking beside them.' This clearly shows that Mossad agents attempted to direct such terrorist acts," the minister said. Addressing military threats from the U.S. and Israel, Araghchi said Iran does not seek war but is fully prepared to face up to war. He added that Iran is ready for serious and pragmatic negotiations with the U.S., but the talks must be based on fairness, equality and mutual respect, rather than unilateral pressure or directives from Washington.
On the same day, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei condemned the U.S. and Israel at a regular press briefing in Tehran. He said the two countries have made "extensive interventionist remarks" regarding Iran's situation, saying such statements are intended to foment chaos, violence and instability.
The spokesman said Iran is closely monitoring the development of the situation and remains fully prepared, warning that Iran's armed forces will respond to any act of aggression by its enemies.
Mossad agents attempt to direct terrorist acts: Iranian FM
