Exhibition celebrates the nation's opera culture

Where tradition meets the present, the Shanghai Center of Chinese Opera is presenting a celebration of the nation's opera culture for this year's Cultural and Natural Heritage Day.

Running to July 13, the special event "From Archive to Artisan: The Chinese Opera Heritage Exhibition" invites the public to step into the world of opera archives, craftsmanship, and interactive storytelling – all brought to life through immersive experiences and digital touchpoints.

Held at the Shanghai Jingju (Peking Opera) Culture Center, the exhibition marks the first comprehensive public showing of nearly 100 rare opera artifacts and archival treasures.

Divided into sections such as Splendor on Stage, Echoes Across Time, Costume Unboxed, and Behind the Curtain, the exhibit showcases everything from intricate Chinese opera robes and headpieces to hand-inked Kunqu opera music scores, stage design blueprints, and audio recordings of classic arias across six major regional styles.

Visitors can listen to famous operatic scenes, take selfies under a towering replica phoenix crown, flip through interactive face-painting stations, and collect limited-edition stamps at the "Heritage Passport" booth.

A specially designed mobile game lets guests explore the exhibit by scanning QR codes to unlock behind-the-scenes stories and earn exclusive cultural merchandise as certified "Opera Experience Officers."

Beyond the archive, the center transforms into a mini fairground of cultural delights. From creative souvenirs at the pop-up gift shop to hands-on experiences that bridge stage and audience, the event blurs the line between heritage and everyday life – making opera not just something to observe, but something to live.

If you go

Date: Through to July 13 (10am-5pm daily, closed on Mondays; last entry at 4:30pm)

Venue: Bldg 3, Shanghai Jingju Culture Center 上海京剧传习馆·3号楼

Address: 168 Yueyang Rd 岳阳路168号