The scene is an excerpt from The Peony Pavilion, written by Tang Xianzu who lived in 16th century and is now known as "China's Shakespeare." Kunqu Opera is now becoming the object of renewed interest although it has long being threatened with extinction. Since 2001 when Kunqu Opera was proclaimed as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage, the traditional performing art has experienced a rebirth in the past few years. Four classical plays, including The Peony Pavilion, have been restored and updated.

The Peony Pavilion tells the tragic tale of Du Liniang, who dreams during a walk in the park that she meets and falls in love with a young man. Unable to live her dream in reality, she falls mortally ill and, as she is dying, asks to be buried in the garden where she met her beloved. Later, Lui Mengmei, a student on his way to the capital, passes in front of Du Liniang's house and asks to spend the night there. As he sleeps, he dreams about the young girl. Revealing to him that he is the one her heart desires, she asks him to open her coffin. Liu Mengmei does so and Du Liniang comes back to life.

Since 2004, this updated version of the play, produced by Bai Xianyong, one of China's best-known contemporary authors, has been staged in a dozen universities in China. Teachers and students can buy tickets for as little as 10 yuan (US$1.23). Each time the performance attracts a large audience who praises the opera as being very sweet, graceful, and profoundly touching.

Action plan

The Opera Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Arts maintains a rich collection of written and audiovisual resources and conducts research into a wide range of areas.

The State funds seven permanent theaters, which specialize in Kunqu Opera and encompass a total of 500 practitioners. Two of these theaters also offer classes. The action plan aims to publish a complete edition of the texts of Kunqu Operas since the Ming era, to produce an archive of the expertise of elderly actors through video recordings and to revive those plays which have not been performed for a considerable time.

Furthermore, the actors training program needs to be strengthened to allow an intake of around 10 students per year and to be widened to incorporate training for technical experts, researchers, and directors.