Luoyang Yu Opera Troupe to Showcase Traditional Performances at Chinese Culture Festival 2026 in Hong Kong

2026-06-16 11:00 Last Updated At：12:24

Chinese Culture Festival 2026 to focus on Luoyang by presenting Hong Kong debut of Luoyang Yu Opera Troupe with classic play and excerpts in July

The Chinese Culture Festival (CCF), organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), has designated Luoyang as its focal city this year. The Festival has invited Guan Meili, director of the Luoyang Yu Opera Troupe and a disciple of the legendary Yu opera maestro Ma Jinfeng,to make her highly anticipated Hong Kong debut. Joining forces with Plum Blossom Award winners Wang Hui and Jia Wenlong, Class One performers Bo Qing, Chen Dahua and Liu Yalin, alongside other outstanding performers of the troupe, she will present the signature plays of the Ma School ("Mu Guiying Takes Command", "The Spear as a Token of Love", and "Demanding Justice from the Emperor") and selected excerpts from diverse stylistic schools. The performances promise to showcase the unique artistic charm of Yu opera, celebrated for its simplicity and vibrant local flavour. This programme is also part of the 14th Chinese Opera Festival (COF).

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The Chinese Culture Festival 2026 has invited the Luoyang Yu Opera Troupe to make its Hong Kong debut in July to present two performances of a classic play and excerpts. Photo shows a scene from "Mu Guiying Takes Command". Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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The Chinese Culture Festival 2026 has invited the Luoyang Yu Opera Troupe to make its Hong Kong debut in July to present two performances of a classic play and excerpts. Photo shows a scene from "Mu Guiying Takes Command". Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Yu opera, also known as Henan "Bangzi", is a prominent branch of the clapper opera ("bangzi") vocal system. Prevalent in Henan Province, it has evolved into various local singing styles, including the Xiangfu style, Eastern Henan style, Western Henan style and Shahe style. The genre has produced many great masters through the ages. Of these, Ma Jinfeng, one of the "Five Divas" in Yu opera, created the distinctive "shuaidan" (military-leading female) role type, which tactfully fuses the stylised movements of "qingyi" (virtuous female), "wusheng" (martial male) and "daomadan" (sword-wielding and horse-riding female). Her rich, mellow voice and bold, dashing stage presence have won her the epithet "Peony of Luoyang".

Details of the two performances are as follows:

"Mu Guiying Takes Command"

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Date and time: July 17 (Friday), 7.30pm

This play is a signature masterpiece of Ma Jinfeng, which was subsequently adapted into a Peking opera version by the legendary Mei Lanfang and became popular nationwide. The storyline follows Mu Guiying, past 50, who once again dons her armour and takes command of the army in a time of national peril. Led by Guan Meili, this performance revives the splendour of the Ma-school "shuaidan" style, offering an awe-inspiring stage presence in a crimson warrior robe as a commanding war marshal. Her passionate singing in the iconic aria "Three Cannon Blasts Beyond the Command Gate" is majestic and powerful, fully projecting Mu's devotion and determination to protect the country. Sharing the stage are Wang Hui as Dowager She, with a robust and poised vocal style, and Jia Wenlong as the Song Emperor, portraying the ruler with stately grace. For her spectacular performance in this play, Guan Meili was honoured with the Leading Role Award at the 33rd Shanghai Magnolia Stage Performance Awards. Marking her Hong Kong debut with this definitive Ma-school classic, this rare showcase promises to be an unmissable performance for all Chinese opera enthusiasts.

Excerpts

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Date and time: July 18 (Saturday), 7.30pm

This programme features a selection of five excerpts from representative classics, showcasing the fascinating diversity of Yu opera's stylistic schools. Chinese opera lovers will be treated to the delicate and nuanced delivery of the female lead's singing in the Ma-school masterpiece "Emotional Outpouring at the South Camp" from "The Spear as a Token of Love", as well as the classic comedy "At the Imperial Court" from "Demanding Justice from the Emperor", which skilfully fuses the distinctive traits of "podan" (shrewish female), "caidan" (female clown) and "qingyi" (virtuous female) roles. Furthermore, "Interrogating the Husband", a representative work of the Yan (Liping) school, meticulously details the emotional struggles of a "guimendan" (young female role). "The Ingenious County Magistrate" is a delightful comic play featuring a "wenchou" (clown role) as its protagonist, using lively gestures drawn from everyday life to portray a witty and upright inner beauty. Finally, the Chang (Xiangyu) school classic "Setting Off for Battle" from "Five Generations of Loyal Generals" raises the sense of loyalty towards family and country of the Yang family's women warriors to a powerful climax through impassioned, stirring singing.

Established in 2010, the Luoyang Yu Opera Troupe traces its lineage to the Luoyang City Yu Opera Troupe founded in the 1950s and the Second Luoyang City Yu Opera Troupe formed in the late 1980s. Representing the distinctive artistic style of the Ma school, the troupe enjoys a stellar reputation nationwide. Its signature productions - including "Mu Guiying Takes Command", "Demanding Justice from the Emperor", "The Spear as a Token of Love" and "Luoyang Bridge" - have been highly popular with audiences and have been adapted into films. Among these, "Mu Guiying Takes Command" received the National Outstanding Traditional Opera Script Award and several first prizes at the first Henan Provincial Drama Festival.

The two performances will be held at the Auditorium of Ko Shan Theatre New Wing (KSTNW). Lyrics and dialogue are with Chinese and English surtitles. Tickets priced at $190, $290 and $390 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. The CCF 2026 offers various discount schemes, such as group booking discounts, package booking discounts and the newly introduced "Generations Together 1+1" discount. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7325 or visit www.ccf.gov.hk/en/programme/luoyang-yu-opera-troupe/.

A meet-the-artists session entitled "On the Development and Dissemination of Yu Opera - A Legacy from Luoyang, Henan" (in Putonghua) will be held at 7.30pm on July 16 (Thursday) at AC2, Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The speakers include Guan Meili, Wang Hui, Jia Wenlong, Bo Qing, Chen Dahua and Liu Yalin, while Chinese opera researcher Giovanna Wu will be the moderator. Admission is free, and online registration is required (www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/chinese_opera/programs_1963.html#tab_13_0). If the spaces for online registration are full, those who are interested may wait at the venue's entrance for a standby space on the day of the session. Any unclaimed spots will be released 10 minutes after the session begins on a first-come, first-served basis.

The programme will also feature two sessions under the "Chinese Culture for All: A Special Performance Series" to be held at 10.30am and noon on July 17 (Friday) at the Auditorium of the KSTNW, with free admission specially for local primary and secondary school students. Artists of the troupe will perform Yu opera excerpts including "Huarong Pass" from "The Righteous and the Loyal" and "On the Way to Battle" from "Hua Mulan", accompanied by easy-to-follow demonstrations and guided appreciation, allowing students to gain a close understanding of Yu opera. Interested schools can call 2268 7325 for details. This session is sponsored by the Chamber of Young Snow.

The CCF, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Chinese Cuture Promotion Office under the LCSD, aims to promote Chinese culture and enhance the public's sense of national identity and cultural confidence, thereby facilitating patriotic education. It also aims to attract top-notch artists and arts groups from the Chinese Mainland and other parts of the world for exchanges in Chinese arts and culture. The CCF 2026 is held from June to September. It hosts various forms of distinctive stage programmes and related extension activities, film screenings, thematic exhibitions, talks, workshops, as well as community and school activities, affording the public and visitors more opportunities to appreciate and experience the beauty of fine traditional Chinese culture. For more information, please visit www.ccf.gov.hk.

WHO Hosts Expert Meeting in Hong Kong to Develop International Herbal Pharmacopoeia Standards

WHO holds expert meeting on International Herbal Pharmacopoeia in Hong Kong, China

The World Health Organization (WHO) today (June 16) convened the fifth WHO Expert Meeting on the Development of the International Herbal Pharmacopoeia (IHP) in Hong Kong, China, for three days. The meeting brings together experts from six WHO regions to discuss and advance internationally harmonised quality standards for selected herbal medicines.

The Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office of the Department of Health (DH), as the WHO Collaborating Centre for Traditional Medicine (WHOCC), is supporting the WHO in organising the meeting, taking part in drafting selected herbal medicine monographs and contributing to related technical work.

The WHO recognises the important role of traditional medicine in healthcare systems worldwide and the need for its evidence-based integration. The development of the IHP aims to support harmonised quality standards for herbal medicines, strengthen regulatory capacity and help ensure the quality and safety of traditional medicine products. This work aligns with Strategic Objective 2 of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034, which was endorsed by the World Health Assembly in 2025.

The Unit Head, Traditional Medicine Norms, Standards and Systems Integration Unit, Global Traditional Medicine Centre of the WHO, Dr Kim Sungchol, delivered opening remarks. He expressed the WHO's appreciation to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government for its support for the meeting, and to the WHOCC for its close collaboration. He also acknowledged the important contributions of collaborating technical teams to the development of the IHP.

The Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, said, "The HKSAR was honoured to support the WHO's important work in developing the IHP. To align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan to advance the inheritance, innovation and high-quality development of Chinese medicine, expand and strengthen the Chinese medicine industry and promote Chinese medicine culture, the DH will continue to steadfastly promote the development of Chinese medicine and better integrate into and serve the overall national development. The DH will fully leverage the HKSAR's expertise in developing herbal medicine standards, testing and quality control. We will work closely with the WHO and international experts to contribute to the standardisation, safety and quality of traditional herbal medicines, thereby safeguarding the health and well-being of humanity."

Dr Lam also briefed participants on Hong Kong's work in developing safety and quality standards for Chinese medicines, telling good stories of Hong Kong.

Dr Lam said, "The DH has developed the Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards since 2002, with 12 volumes published covering standards for 357 Chinese Materia Medica. The project has gained international recognition, with its scientific findings cited by overseas authorities and international journals. The Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute under the DH, which is equipped with advanced technology and equipment, will continue to develop Chinese Medicine testing methods and standard development capabilities and promote high-quality development of Chinese medicine in the HKSAR. Leveraging the HKSAR's unique advantages under 'one country, two systems', with strong support of the motherland and close connections with the world, Hong Kong will continue to contribute to the wider global dissemination of Chinese medicine and establish the HKSAR as a bridgehead for Chinese Medicine to go global."

The HKSAR has continued to support the WHO's work on the development of the IHP. Following the WHO meeting organised with the support of the DH in Hong Kong, China, in November 2024 to discuss the roadmap and working mechanism for the development of the IHP, this meeting marks another important occasion on which the HKSAR supports the WHO in advancing this important international initiative.

Luoyang Yu Opera Troupe to Showcase Traditional Performances at Chinese Culture Festival 2026 in Hong Kong

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