Chongqing's cultural scene shone brightly earlier this month as Puccini's classic opera Turandot concluded its 2026 China tour with two sold-out performances on January 10-11. The production marked a significant moment in China-Italy cultural cooperation, featuring a 120-member Italian opera company collaborating with the Chongqing Children's Choir.
The performances at Chongqing Grand Theatre blended Western operatic tradition with local artistic talent, particularly through the choir's Mandarin rendition of Mo Li Hua (Jasmine Flower) – a melodic thread connecting the Italian composer's work to Chinese folk music. Audience members praised the fusion as "a dialogue between Renaissance architecture and Yangtze River culture."
This collaboration comes as China and Italy celebrate 56 years of diplomatic relations in 2026, with cultural exchanges playing a central role in bilateral ties. Recent data shows a 22% year-on-year increase in Sino-Italian cultural co-productions since 2023.
