With the arrival of spring, a number of Yueju opera troupes have entered their peak performance season and are staging unique performances in south China's Guangdong Province, to spread the custom and generate interest in the art form.

In Shanqian Village, Maoming City, three hours prior to the evening performance at the village square, the crew from the Guangzhou Yueju Opera Theatre was busy assembling the stage and the actors were meticulously applying their makeup in preparation for the show. Meanwhile, some villagers had arrived early to secure favorable viewing positions.

"The day when Yueju opera is performed is often the most anticipated day of the year. The atmosphere is vibrant, with the village decorated with lanterns and streamers," said a villager.

As night descended, the melodious sounds of stringed and bamboo instruments resonated through the air. On the stage, three winners of the Plum Blossom Award together with other outstanding young artists, are presenting a classic story "Fan Li Presents Xi Shi As a Gift". 

"This is a traditional Chinese custom that is widely appreciated by people of all ages in countryside. It brings a great sense of joy and carries the essence of childhood memoriess," said another villager.

"The roots of Chinese operas lie in the countryside. We have more than 50 shows in total during this year's spring performance season. The repertoire we bring includes all time-honored classics that are highly favored by the public. The average age of our performers is 38 years old. The youngest performer,  born after 2000, is only 18 years old, a recent graduate," said Chen Jianchao, director of the Guangzhou Yueju Opera Theatre.

Dubbed the "southern red bean," and rooted in the Cantonese-speaking province and region of Guangdong and Guangxi in south China, the art form features a combination of string and percussion instruments, with elaborate costumes and face painting. It was inscribed in 2009 on the  UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.