The first Grand Canal Chinese Opera Festival opens in Gongshu district of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on May 23. [Photo/IC]

A traditional Chinese opera festival honoring the 5th anniversary since the Grand Canal was designated a world heritage site opened in Gongshu district of Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province on May 23, attracting over 600 opera lovers from across the province.

Exploring the historic relationship between the Grand Canal and Chinese opera, the festival aims to promote Chinese opera in the district.

Winners of the Plum Blossom Award, the highest theatrical award in China, gave performances at the opening ceremony. 

Lasting until the end of June, a series of activities and performances featuring different drama genres such as the famous Peking opera, Shaoxing opera from Zhejiang province, Wuxi opera from Jiangsu province, Lv opera from Shandong province, and Huai opera, popular in Jiangsu, Anhui and Shanghai, will be held during the month-long festival.

Plum Blossom Award winners perform Shaoxing opera at the opening ceremony of the first Grand Canal Chinese Opera Festival in Gongshu district of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on May 23. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

A young Chinese opera performer performs Peking opera at the opening ceremony of the first Grand Canal Chinese Opera Festival in Gongshu district of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on May 23. [Photo/IC]