Opera gives villagers nights to remember

Applause breaks out in Xingbali village when the night draws in. Villagers have feasted their eyes on classic folk opera performances since the beginning of this year.

"The historical figures and stories in those performances are great and all familiar to me," says Xing Bingwu, a resident of the village in Chongwen street, Guanxian county, Shandong province.

"It was very nice to be able to watch the shows on our doorsteps," Xing says, adding that the shows have also created opportunities for him to bond with his fellow villagers.

Having art performance staged in villages in Chongwen is part of local authorities' efforts to enrich cultural experiences, says Yang Naide, an official in charge of cultural and tourism affairs. "On the other hand, we have also arranged opera to tell the stories of revolutionary history," Yang adds.

To date, more than 20 folk opera performances have been held in various villages, and more have been arranged to cover 35 local villagers by the end of this year, Yang says.