TV show combines tradition with youth

"The experience sparked my interest in the art," Yu says. "This time, the reality show provides me with a great chance to further probe into it."

Another participant, singer-songwriter Shang Wenjie, agrees. In her songs, she has combined the opera art form with pop music and it's time, she says, to systematically learn the genre from professional teachers in the field, especially theoretical knowledge and their unique styles of singing.

In the show's first episode, participants give solo performances to display their abilities in singing, dancing and the martial arts. Based on their performances, a panel of experts, who act as team leaders throughout the show, choose their respective team members to study the genre that they are adept in. The experts include Peking Opera master Tan Xiaozeng; Qinqiang Opera actress Hui Minli; Yueju Opera actress He Saifei; Wu Qiong, an experienced actress of Huangmeixi, a local opera of Anhui province, and Yuju Opera actress Chen Bailing, better known for her stage name Xiaoxiangyu, among other renowned veteran performers.

Later, each team studies a certain genre and collaboratively stages a performance in that style.