A vibrant remake of the 16th-century Kunqu Opera The Peony Pavilion just celebrated its 20th anniversary at Peking University, proving tradition can slay in the TikTok era 🎶. Spearheaded by Chinese-American literary icon Pai Hsien-yung, this version swaps stiff collars for fresh beats and bold staging to woo younger crowds.
💡 Fun fact: Kunqu Opera, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2001, once risked fading into history books. Pai's team jazzed up the 55-scene romance with modern music and snappier pacing. \"Art shouldn't gather dust—it should spark joy across generations,\" he told the Global Times.
Students at the packed show cheered the mix of dreamy silk costumes and Instagram-worthy visuals 📸. One theater major tweeted: \"Who knew 400-year-old love stories could hit harder than Netflix?\"
Why it matters: As China revives cultural gems like Hanfu fashion and porcelain art, this Kunqu glow-up shows how tradition stays lit 🔥—one Gen Z fan at a time.
