The renowned play Wang Yangming is staged at the opening ceremony of the fourth Chinese Yue Opera Arts Festival in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province on Oct 12. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]

The fourth Chinese Yue Opera Arts Festival commenced with the popular Yueju Opera plays in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province on Oct 12.

Yueju Opera is included in the first group of China's national intangible heritages and Shaoxing, one of the cradles of the opera, has been chosen as the permanent host city of the national arts festival since 2006.

This month, scholars, artists and opera fans gather in the city to discuss the new achievements in this sector, as well as the development prospects of the opera in the new era.

Scholars, critics and artists are invited to have discussions on the development of Yueju Opera in Shaoxing. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]

"The Chinese Yue Opera Arts Festival serves as an exchange and display platform for opera culture and thanks to the event, numerous excellent plays and performers are springing up", said Li Qun, vice minister of culture and tourism.

Cheng Yuechong, vice governor of Zhejiang, addressed the opening ceremony, saying that the province hopes to further promote the Chinese traditional culture and expand Yueju Opera's influence through the festival.

"Shaoxing pledges to organize the arts festival with passion and carefulness, to ensure an effective and productive event for artists from around the country," said Ma Weiguang, Party chief of Shaoxing.

Performers present a Yueju Opera play at a square in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province on Oct 13. [Photo/WeChat: zgyjysj2018]