The State funds 7 permanent theatres which specialize in Kunqu and encompass a total of 500 practitioners.

UNESCO: Culture

Kunqu Opera has suffered somewhat of a decline since the 18th century because it requires a high level of technical knowledge from the audience.

UNESCO: Culture

Kunqu combines song, recital, body movement and dance and plays a key role in the training of the actors and singers of Beijing opera.

UNESCO: Culture

Kunqu Opera is one of the oldest forms of opera still existing in China, with its origins dating back to the Song dynasty (10 to 13th centuries).

UNESCO: Culture

Kunqu is accompanied by string, wind and percussion instruments.

UNESCO: Culture

The action plan aims to publish a complete edition of the texts of Kunqu operas since the Ming era, to produce an archive of the expertise of elderly actors through video recordings and to revive those plays which have not been performed for a considerable time.

UNESCO: Culture