Making its debut abroad! Yihuang Opera takes the stage in Namibia’s capital.

On September 8, local time, an excerpt from the Yihuang Opera “Red Peach Mountain,” a representative item on the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List, was performed in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. This marked the first time Yihuang Opera has ventured beyond China’s borders and taken to an international stage.

As one of the events marking the 2026 “China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges,” this performance is a key component of the “Jiangxi Culture Goes to International Sister Cities (Namibia)” exchange initiative. Young opera performers from Yihuang are bringing this ancient art form, with a history spanning more than 400 years, to Africa, injecting fresh cultural dimensions into China–Africa people-to-people exchanges.

To the resounding beat of gongs and drums, young opera performers took to the stage to present an excerpt from the martial‑arts opera “Red Peach Mountain.” With acrobatic flips, dynamic leaps, and striking entrances, they brought to life the tale of Zhang Yue’e, a heroic woman who bravely faces a host of adversaries—a story drawn from “Water Margin.” The vivid character designs and powerfully charged martial‑arts sequences captivated the audience, earning repeated rounds of applause.

“For the first time, we’ve brought Yihuang Opera to such a distant place—my feelings are truly special,” said Zou Yu, a young opera performer who took part in the show. Before the performance, she and her fellow actors had worried that overseas audiences might not be familiar with Chinese opera, “but to our surprise, they showed great interest in the martial‑arts choreography and the facial makeup.”

After the performance, several foreign friends approached the actors and eagerly joined in, learning traditional opera movements step by step. With every gesture—raising a hand, striking a pose, or executing a kick—they practiced with great seriousness. “Seeing how fascinated they are with our techniques makes us feel that this trip was truly worthwhile,” said Zou Yu. Despite the language barrier, the gestures, expressions, and rhythms of Chinese opera can still convey the characters’ emotions and the story’s essence to the audience.

The excerpt from “Mount Hongtao” in this performance retains the original vocal style of Yihuang Opera while adopting highly visually engaging martial‑arts scenes. By employing expressive body movements, distinctive facial makeup, and dynamic fight choreography, it lowers the barrier to cross‑cultural appreciation. Vocal coach Deng Chunhui explains that the production features rich martial‑arts sequences and striking character designs, making it particularly well suited for international stages. Striving to uphold the artistic essence of Yihuang Opera, it seeks to bridge the gap between overseas audiences and this ancient theatrical tradition.

National Level-3 Museum

Chinese Qu Culture Education Base

Chinese Overseas International Culture Exchange Base

On-site Teaching Site of the Jinggangshan Cadre Academy of China

Jiangxi Province Patriotic Education Base

Jiangxi Provincial Base for Popularizing Social Sciences

Jiangxi Province Museum Demonstration Unit for Integrated Development

Jiangxi Province Primary and Secondary School Research-and-Practice Education Base

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