Anyue Opera Meets Campus Sports: Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage Shines Among Youth

Beijing, April 21 (Xinhua) -- A unique integration of intangible cultural heritage and campus sports has breathed new life into traditional Chinese opera culture, as Anyue Opera, a precious local opera heritage in Sichuan Province, has been creatively combined with school gymnastics in a primary school, offering a vivid demonstration of how China preserves and passes down traditional arts among the younger generation.

Recently, a lively cultural event themed"Opera Rhythm Nurtures Young Minds, Intangible Cultural Heritage Grows with Growth" was held at Lezhi Street Primary School in Anyue County, Ziyang City, Sichuan Province. The event, which was the 2nd Anyue Opera Campus Culture Festival and the 13th Queue Formation and Gymnastics Competition of the school, brought together teachers and students to stage a spectacular feast blending traditional art and youthful sports vitality.

At 8 a.m., the competition officially kicked off with orderly queue formation demonstrations. A total of 15 classes took turns to perform, featuring a distinctive gymnastics routine that integrated classic postures, rhythms and movements of Anyue Opera, a national-level intangible cultural heritage item of China. Every gesture and movement perfectly combined the elegant charm of traditional opera with the dynamic energy of physical exercise, presenting a brand-new form of campus sports.

"Previously, I thought opera was only loved by the elderly, but it turns out to be so interesting when turned into gymnastics," said Jiang Zimeng, a second-grade student, with excitement. Her words reflected the fresh perception of traditional culture among Chinese young people.

After the gymnastics competition, Jiang Yihong, a municipal-level inheritor of Anyue Opera, delivered a vivid lecture to the students. She explained in detail the origin, development and inheritance stories of Anyue Opera, enabling the children to gain an in-depth understanding of this traditional art form with a long history.

"I feel it is my responsibility to learn and pass on this art," said Yan Zhenxiao, a sixth-grade student. The event has planted the seeds of traditional culture in the hearts of young people, inspiring their sense of mission to inherit intangible cultural heritage.

Teachers and students also visited the Anyue Opera art painting exhibition and costume exhibition. The children's ink wash paintings showed their unique understanding of opera art with innocent brushstrokes, while the gorgeous opera costumes, exquisite headwear and colorful cloud shoulders allowed the young participants to experience the unique charm of traditional Chinese opera costumes up close.

The person in charge of the school stated that this activity is a beneficial attempt to deepen the integration of sports and education, as well as inherit and promote Anyue Opera. Integrating traditional opera elements into daily sports activities not only enriches the connotation of campus sports culture, but also provides a new carrier for the inheritance of intangible cultural heritage.

In recent years, China has been committed to innovative inheritance and development of traditional culture, promoting the integration of intangible cultural heritage into campus education, sports and aesthetic education. This practice in Anyue County is a typical example of China's efforts to let traditional arts take root in the new era and pass on from generation to generation, showcasing the unique charm and vitality of Chinese traditional culture to the world.（Yan Kai, Pei Shulin）

Translation：Sichuan University Aeel

Reviewed by：Liu Hongming from Xi'anTranslation Institute