Huangmei opera festival held in Anhui province

Over the centuries, many operatic styles have evolved around the country. Huangmei opera is a stage tradition rooted in east China's Anhui province, and recently, it was featured in an art festival held in Anqing city.

Anqing is the natural location for the festival as the city was Huangmei opera's place of origin, and still has a lot of fans there.

The Huangmei Opera Festival lowered its curtain over the weekend, but not until sixteen newly created Huangmei plays took to the stage.

The Anqing Huangmei Opera Troupe put on a drama based on "A Dream of Red Mansions". It centers on a brilliant and strong-willed girl Tan Chun, who is one of the ladies depicted in the novel. She is forced to leave the Garden of Grand View and travel to a distant land at a young age.

An audience member said, "The theme is fresh, the singing is beautiful. We enjoyed it very much."

Historical drama "Xu Xilin", pays tribute to a revolutionary heralder of Anqing at the turn of the 20th century. The play represents the revolutionary's heroic deeds and his unflinching spirit as he faces death.

Other dramas included one about the rescues of the Wenchuan earthquake.

Han Zaifen, Huangmei opera artist, said, "Various troupes are excited about creating new dramas. So, many new plays are on stage, which is very delightful."

It's the fifth year for the Huangmei Opera Festival.