A Peking Opera performance is staged after the opening ceremony of the 2024 Taizhou Mei Lanfang Arts Festival. [Photo/WeChat account: tzfabu]

On the evening of Oct 10, the 2024 Taizhou Mei Lanfang Arts Festival kicked off at the Taizhou Grand Theatre, marking the 130th anniversary of the birth of the legendary Peking Opera master, Mei Lanfang.

During the opening ceremony, guests watched a remarkable documentary highlighting Mei's extraordinary life and artistic journey. As part of the festival, Taizhou, the ancestral home of Mei, announced plans to develop three dramas themed around the Peking Opera artist, with six outstanding scripts selected from a nationwide competition. Taizhou and Beijing Yingke Cultural and Tourism Industry agreed to co-produce a television series.

A production about Mei Lanfang is premiered during the 2024 Taizhou Mei Lanfang Arts Festival. [Photo/WeChat account: tzfabu]

After the ceremony, attendees enjoyed the premiere of Mei Lanfang: The Osmanthus Chronicles, a new Peking Opera production created by the Taizhou Mei Lanfang Peking Opera Troupe.

This year, the Taizhou Mei Lanfang Arts Festival is celebrating its 15th edition. In the past few years, the city of Taizhou has expanded its efforts to preserve Mei's legacy, building the Mei Lanfang Memorial Hall, Mei Lanfang Grand Theatre, and Mei Lanfang Art Center. They have also started opera schools to keep Mei's art alive.