(Handout via Xinhua Daily)

The Peony Pavilion – The Youth Version, a Kunqu Opera production, celebrates its 20th anniversary and 500th performance at Peking University on the evening of September 16.

Starting from September 10, the production was performed for six consecutive days at the National Centre for the Performing Arts and Peking University.

The acclaimed production blends the traditional art of Kunqu with modern aesthetics, recreating the romantic love story from a classic Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) play by Tang Xianzu.

In 2003, the Suzhou Kunqu Opera Theater of Jiangsu and renowned author Hsien-yung Pai from Taiwan cooperated to produce the youth version. Its premiere in 2004 featured young actors in the leading roles.

Students are the most important audience for the production, which has been performed at more than 40 universities with over 100 shows in the past 20 years. Peking University and Southeast University also launched their own special editions, further promoting the preservation of Kunqu opera among students.