A festive feel takes center stage

"It has been 12 years for artists from the Jingju Theater Company of Beijing to perform on the first day of the Lunar New Year," she says.

Audience members must wear facemasks and book tickets online because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Feb 13, more performers of traditional Chinese operas, such as Pingju Opera and Hebei Bangzi Opera, will stage a show to showcase these ancient art forms' beauty.

"There are over 270 kinds of Chinese opera. The three major types are Peking, Pingju and Hebei Bangzi, which are popular among audiences in places like Beijing, Tianjin and cities in Hebei province," says veteran Pingju Opera performer Zeng Shaojuan, who'll give a performance on Feb 13.

The 55-year-old started to perform Pingju Opera at age 15 and is a winner of the Plum Performance Award, China's top prize for theater and opera performances.

"We will perform classic pieces and contemporary works," says Peking Opera artist Wang Rongrong, who performs with the Jingju Theater Company of Beijing and is also a winner of the Plum Performance Award. "The pandemic made the Spring Festival special since many people can't go back to their hometowns. We hope our shows could help them feel relaxed and entertained."