China Qinqiang Opera Art Festival kicks off in Xi'an

The Ninth China Qinqiang Opera Art Festival kicked off at the Grand Theater of the Xi'an Custom Renewal Society in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, on June 13 and will last until June 24.

Qinqiang Opera, which dates to the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), is widely believed to be the oldest type of Chinese opera. It developed mainly during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and was most popular in Shaanxi and Gansu provinces.

The art festival is hosted by the China Theater Association, Shaanxi Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and Xi'an municipal government.

The art festival opened with Three Drops of Blood, one of the best-known Qinqiang Opera works, performed by Xi'an Custom Renewal Society, the oldest opera group still performing in China.

During the art festival, 33 art troupes and 73 Qin operas will be held on stage, and this year's art festival adopts an online + offline performance model, displaying participating repertoires through online platforms such as Cloud Theater.

Meanwhile, winners of the Chinese Drama Plum Blossom Award – the most prestigious theatrical award in China – and outstanding actors from grassroots Qinqiang Opera troupes will put on cultural performances and interact with Qinqiang Opera fans in the Yisu Cultural District, Xi'an Huancheng Park and other places.

The art festival aims to provide a platform for Qinqiang Opera art groups to showcase their development achievements, promote the exchange and mutual learning of traditional operas, and convey the beauty of Qinqiang Opera to a wider audience.