Hunan Huagu Opera is a small play with a strong sense of life, and the tune is beautiful and moving. It originated from the singing and dancing in the fields, and was circulated in the early form of the "once ugly" ground flower drum. It can not only interpret the delicate aspects of life, but also present magnificent classic stories. After more than 200 years of inheritance and innovation, this local art has been successfully selected into the national intangible cultural heritage list from a small rural opera. Let’s take a look at Hunan Flower Drum Opera.

The sound of gongs and drums in the theater in Zhoujiadian Town, Changde, Hunan Province, attracted drama fans from the surrounding villages. The two-hour performance also made everyone feel addicted.

Chen Liming, a villager in Zhoujiadian Town, Dingcheng District, Changde, Hunan Province: I used to be young, but I didn't understand. I followed my grandparents and felt very shocking today, and it was very different. The music and environment are very good. Next time I have the chance, I will bring my children to watch it so that our traditional culture can be passed on.

Du Meishuang is the fifth batch of representative inheritors of the national intangible cultural heritage. She started to come into contact with Huagu Opera at the age of 13. She performed well at highlighting the inner contradictions and helplessness of the characters, leaving a deep impression on the audience. Now, in her sixties, she is still active on the stage, participating in more than a hundred performances of "Sending Plays to the Countryside, Culture Benefiting the People" every year, and is also committed to the inheritance and popularization of Huagu Opera.

Representative inheritor of intangible cultural heritage of Changde Huagu Opera Du Meishuang: We inherit traditional things, and we pass them on generations. I think the key is persistence. As long as I live to be 100, I will stick to 100.

The singing of Hunan flower drums originated from folk songs, and later gradually developed into "two small plays" that were performed once ugly. It draws on the performance model of local operas, absorbs various artistic factors, and eventually develops into an independent local opera opera. The musical tunes of Huagu Opera basically belong to the tune card combination, and are supplemented by some plate-like changes. The performance methods are rich and diverse, lively, with distinct local characteristics and folk singing and dancing styles. Traditional plays mainly reflect folk life content such as productive labor, love between men and women, and family conflicts.

In 2008, Hunan Huagu Opera was included in the national intangible cultural heritage list. Now, Huagu Opera has not only become an important symbol of Hunan culture, but has also gone abroad.

Liu Alin, Director of the Huagu Opera Protection Center in Dingcheng District, Changde, Hunan: We started with the baby, and we have inherited some knowledge about opera culture in primary schools, middle schools, high schools, and universities. On our live broadcast platform, there are almost all fans from eight or nine countries. They even said in the live broadcast room that when they come to China to learn opera makeup from us, they feel the charm of Chinese traditional culture.

In recent years, the cultural and tourism integration model of "opera + tourism" in various places has also developed greatly, not only developing opera, but also driving the local economy.

Director of Huagu Opera Protection Center, Dingcheng District, Changde, Hunan Liu Alin: On the basis of maintaining integrity, we must innovate, such as innovating singing styles, such as some local minor tunes, to make it diversified, so that more people can accept and like it.