Looking China: The changing face of Sichuan Opera

180 views · Published 24 October 2017 · 10:42 · Indexed 21 September 2026

Channel: People's Daily, China 人民日报 · 2017 · News & Politics

Watch on YouTube

Sichuan Opera is a traditional folk drama art popular in southwest China’s Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou provinces. 

As time changes, people’s intention of opera appreciation have changed, too. In the perspective of modern people, the artistic skills such as changing faces, spitting fire, hiding sword, among others, have become a representative symbol of Sichuan Opera. 

People walk into the theater to feel the visual impact from the techniques, while ignore the inherent spirit of Sichuan Opera as a traditional drama with opera tune characteristics, performance pattern, and high literary value. 

Watch this short film made by Gerhard Adrian Dudu, a young director from Romania’s National University of Theatre and Film, to learn more about this extensive and profound art. 

Looking China is a short film series made by a group of young film directors from over 20 countries. They traveled to various places across China, making films and exploring Chinese culture with the help of students from local universities.

More from this channel