Source: China News Network 26/09/2011
Author: Tong Wengai, Tan Chang and Huang Qiong

Reported by China News Network, Guangdong, Guangzhou, on Sept 25 Guangzhou Literary Federation, Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Promotion Foundation and Sun Yat-sen University Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage Research Center jointly hosted the activity “The Second Anniversary of Cantonese Opera Successfully Being Recognized as World Heritageand Dialogues with Youth” in Sun Yat-sen University.

Two years ago, Cantonese Opera, which won the reputation of “Southern Red Bean” from Premier Zhou Enlai, had been selected into "World Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage”. Cantonese Opera was the first successful “Intangible Heritage” Project in Guangdong Province and the second Chinese traditional opera succeeded after Kunqu.

Vice chairman of Guangzhou Literary Federation Zhou Guoying said that the reason why Cantonese Opera could stand out from more than 300 kinds of Chinese operas was because of its unique advantages. First of all, Cantonese Opera not only inherited and carried forward the essence of Chinese operas, but also showed distinctive characteristics of Lingnan culture. For example, the opera is sung in Cantonese; the melody is combined with Guangdong folk songs and the context reflects (Guangdong) regional life. What’s more important is Cantonese opera possessed social and cultural identity among Cantonese.

The activity was hosted by Tang Ping, the vice chairman of Guangzhou Literary Federation, Li Ziliu, the former Mayor of Guangzhou and the President of Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Promotion Foundation, Ni Huiying, Vice President of Guangzhou Literary Federation and President of Dramatists Association, Kang Baocheng, Professor of Sun Yat-sen University Chinese Literature and opera theories expert, Xu Yanlin, Professor of South China Agricultural University, He Duzhong, famous Cantonese Opera expert and Li Junsheng, leader of Cantonese opera group, well-known Cantonese Opera actor and winner of Chinese opera “Plum Blossom Prize” were present at the activity and had dialogues with youth.