As Cantonese Opera faces modernization challenges, Guangdong Cantonese Opera Theatre's Zeng Xiaomin is pioneering a dual approach to safeguard this UNESCO-recognized intangible heritage. The actress-director and CPPCC National Committee member reveals her strategy combines classroom education and cutting-edge technology to engage younger generations.
From School Curriculums to AI Stages
Zeng advocates moving beyond occasional workshops, pushing for systematic integration of traditional arts in formal education. "When students analyze operatic poetry in literature class or recreate costumes in art lessons," she explains, "heritage becomes living knowledge rather than museum exhibits."
Digital Innovation in Performance Arts
Zeng's opera films White Snake and Madam Xian have attracted over 50 million views online since 2025, demonstrating tech's power to revitalize tradition. The theater now develops AI-assisted vocal training tools and holographic stage designs, with a new multimedia production slated for late 2026.
This fusion of preservation and innovation positions Cantonese Opera as both cultural treasure and contemporary art form, offering new opportunities for creative industries across the Greater Bay Area.
