Henan province's first opera museum opens in Neixiang

The Chinese Wanbang Opera Museum, built in Neixiang county, Nanyang opened to the public on Oct 9. It was created by the Culture Department of Henan Province with the support of the central government as the first opera museum in the province.

The museum covers a total area of 1,000 square meters and is divided into three exhibition halls, integrating history, culture and art while displaying, exhibiting, preserving, and researching traditional Chinese operas. The museum has a particular emphasis on Wanbang, which is a traditional Nanyang opera. The cultural background and elements of traditional Chinese opera are introduced in the museum and visitors can learn about Chinese traditional opera culture and the history of Wanbang through the display of cultural relics.

Wanbang opera is a rare kind of drama combining Qin opera from Shaanxi province with Nanyang opera and folk custom. It has a history of more than 300 years. Neixiang Wanbang Opera Troupe is the sole existing professional Wanbang opera troupe left in China and was honored as the "Number One Opera Troupe" by the Ministry of Culture.