A student delegation from the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver recently visited Guangzhou, the capital city of Guangdong Province in south China, to explore the city's representative cultural institutions, including the renowned Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Theater.
The visit is part of the celebrations commemorating the 40th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Guangzhou and Vancouver.
At the theater, UBC students learned classic Cantonese opera movements, including the iconic "Xiao Kuai Qiang" (quick spear movements) and "Shui Xiu" (flowing sleeve movements). Some students even had the chance to experience the intricate makeup typically worn by performers.
"I think it's very beautiful, so I want to try it as well. It's definitely very traditional and historical and absolutely amazing. It's definitely a lot of artistry that's required to create them," said Kenda, a UBC student.
Many of the students are members of UBC's opera troupe, therefore, they have a strong understanding of music and drama.
During the visit, they noted that despite the significant differences in costumes, makeup, movements, and vocal techniques between Cantonese opera and Western opera, the two art forms share a common artistic spirit.
"I also think there are a lot of similarities, like the stories -- they are just telling a story on stage," said Elizabeth, another UBC student.
Zhang Huixin, leader of the UBC delegation, expressed hope that young people from both countries would learn from each other's artistic traditions and foster innovative ways to pass on these cultures through reinterpretation and adaptation.
"Such cultural exchanges are great among young people because they are quick to absorb new things. If we adapt the lyrics into English while preserving the Cantonese opera singing style, it would be fantastic. We warmly welcome the traditional Cantonese opera to be brought to Vancouver," said Zhang.
Traditional Cantonese opera deepens bonds between Chinese, Canadian youths
Lebanon's Health Ministry said Saturday that Israeli strikes during the latest round of fighting have killed 2,020 people and wounded 6,436 others since hostilities escalated.
The ministry said the toll reflects cumulative casualties recorded across multiple regions amid continued Israeli airstrikes and cross-border exchanges of fire.
On Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that Israeli forces engaged in close-range firefights with Hezbollah militants, striking multiple targets and killing several militants while seizing various weapons. In the past 24 hours, the IDF targeted over 200 Hezbollah sites within Lebanon and continued to target Hezbollah rocket launchers to prevent attacks against Israel.
Additionally, the IDF's Home Front Command has tightened public safety guidelines, suspending or limiting educational activities in border communities, Upper Galilee, and Haifa Bay, while also restricting the size of gatherings in those areas.
Hezbollah, in its statement, claimed that its operations in southern Lebanon continued, attacking Israeli tanks and personnel. The group also targeted Israeli military infrastructure, soldiers, and vehicles in northern Israel.
The escalation followed renewed hostilities involving Hezbollah, which said it launched rockets from southern Lebanon toward Israel on March 2 for the first time since a ceasefire on Nov. 27, 2024. The exchange prompted Israel to expand its military campaign across Lebanon.
Lebanon has since been hit by sustained strikes in several areas, with fighting spreading beyond border regions into other parts of the country.
Iran and the United States agreed to a ceasefire on Wednesday. Israel said it would abide by the truce but argued the agreement does not apply to Lebanon. That assertion was rejected by Iran and by mediator Pakistan.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that the disarmament of Hezbollah is a prerequisite for any ceasefire agreement with Lebanon.
In a video statement, he said Lebanon had approached Israel several times over the past month seeking to begin direct talks following Israeli military actions.
"I approved this, subject to two conditions: we want to achieve the disarmament of Hezbollah, and we want a real peace agreement that will last for generations," Netanyahu said.
Death toll from Israeli attacks in Lebanon reaches 2,020
