On the evening of October 11, the 10th Yunnan Flower Lantern and Dian Opera Arts Week kicked off in Luliang County, Qujing City, drawing over 700 professional performers and artists together to enrich the cultural lives of the community with stunning displays of flower lanterns and Dian opera.
Flower lanterns and Dian opera represent the rich cultural heritage of Yunnan Province, where traditions of singing flower lanterns and enjoying Dian opera have thrived. The Yunnan Flower Lantern and Dian Opera Arts Week has been held biennially since 2005, playing a vital role in promoting the inheritance, development, and innovation of these traditional arts.
The arts week is organized by the Publicity Department of the Yunnan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party, the Yunnan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, and the Yunnan Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Seventeen performance groups from across the province participate, using this event as an opportunity to bring cultural benefits directly to the grassroots level and stimulate the development of tourism and culture.
“Having held ten editions, this arts week has established a solid foundation among the public for the transmission and evolution of flower lanterns and Dian opera,” commented Sun Jinkun, a national first-class director at the Yunnan National Arts Research Institute and a consistent participant in the event. He emphasized that folk cultural arts will draw rich inspiration from the diverse cultural tapestry of Yunnan, leading to more unique, innovative, and distinctive works.
Long Qian, president of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Drama Theatre and chair of the Guangxi Drama Association, shared her insights on nurturing talent in drama. She noted that the process is complex and ongoing, and the Flower Lantern and Dian Opera Arts Week provides a crucial platform and opportunities for numerous artists. “These grassroots traditional art forms should be refined into outstanding classics that resonate deeply with the audience, ensuring their continued relevance and evolution,” she added.
The night featured a live performance of the large-scale flower lantern drama “The Legend of the Cuanzhu Stele,” which tells the story of the Cuanzhu Stele, dating back to the Eastern Jin Dynasty and unearthed in Qujing during the Qianlong period. Renowned for its calligraphy and historical significance, the drama presents a theatrical interpretation of the stele’s discovery and preservation, highlighting local classical elements and cultural symbols that embody distinct regional and national characteristics.
Notably, this year’s arts week introduced its first-ever mascot, inspired by the cultural attributes of Qujing, integrating themes from Cuanzhu culture and elements from Dian opera and flower lantern performances. The mascots, named “Cuanhua” and “Cuandian,” celebrate the local cultural identity.
The Flower Lantern and Dian Opera Arts Week will run until October 17, featuring a variety of activities, including outstanding performance showcases, a singing competition for young artists, and initiatives to bring the arts into schools and communities, along with expert discussions and a closing ceremony with an awards presentation, ensuring that the public and visitors can enjoy this cultural feast.
