Modern twist on White Snake reviving Cantonese Opera

Traditional Chinese culture is the spiritual lifeline of the Chinese nation and the foundation of China's cultural confidence. Cantonese Opera, as an intangible cultural heritage, is a cultural symbol and shared treasure of the people in Guangdong province, and the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions. It is therefore necessary that litterateurs and artists shoulder the responsibility of delving deep into the lives of the people to create more masterpieces.

Take, for example, the Guangdong Cantonese Opera Institute's production of Madam White Snake — The Affection. The production has breathed new life into the ancient myth, blending romance with Chinese aesthetics. The opera has toured more than 40 cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Macao and Taipei, as well as countries such as Italy, Greece, Spain and Singapore.

Since its debut in 2014, the opera has been performed more than 300 times, earning over 40 million yuan ($5.5 million). It has helped overseas Chinese people to cherish their connection with the motherland and prompted international audiences to admire traditional Chinese culture.