A charming scene takes place during a performance of the Gaojia Opera The Weitou Bride. [Photo provided to gofujian.com]

During the National Day holiday, Yonghe town, which located in Jinjiang, Quanzhou city, East China's Fujian province, once again hosted a triumphant performance of Gaojia Opera.

The occasion was a complete success and the audience was reportedly thrilled, frequently erupting in laughter and applause.

Lin Fengjin, deputy head of the Gaojia Opera Troupe of Quanzhou, said the tickets were quickly sold out, with online reservations consistently booked out. In fact, the troupe now stages over 500 shows annually, with holidays always the busiest time of the year.

Gaojia Opera, a local opera genre in southern Fujian, has seen a surge in its popularity in recent years. That's especially after "Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China" was designated as a cultural property on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2021.

This recognition is said to have been a turning point, drawing an ever-growing number of young audiences to Gaojia Opera.

Previously, the opera only had around 200 yearly performances, which were mostly attended by elderly audiences. However, in the last two years, there has been a noticeable increase in younger spectators, as noted by Lin.

Chen Dejia, a member of the post-2000 generation in the Gaojia Opera Troupe of Quanzhou, has taken part in over 1,000 performances since 2021.

Initially attracted to the lively martial arts displays, Chen enrolled in art school to study opera following policies supporting endangered opera genres in Quanzhou.

"I found it interesting initially, but after delving into the art form, I was captivated by its profound cultural significance," Chen recalled.

With the growing spotlight on Gaojia Opera, its practitioners are considering ways to further enhance its development.

"Keeping pace with the times is crucial," Chen said, noting that the troupe now incorporates trendy internet slang into scripts, often sparking laughter from the audience. Actors also interact with spectators on stage, boosting audience engagement in a departure from traditional styles.

What’s more, Gaojia Opera is now expanding beyond the region and even internationally, with performances by Gaojia Opera troupes being staged in Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Despite language barriers, foreign audiences can still appreciate the allure of Chinese culture through gestures, melodies and more.

Since 2018, the Gaojia Opera Troupe of Quanzhou has initiated opera outreach programs in schools, with several primary schools offering Gaojia Opera classes. Introducing this ancient art form into the classroom is said to plant the seeds of traditional culture in the hearts of students, fostering cultural confidence and inspiring cultural exploration.