Centuries-old Wu Opera performed in Cambodia to celebrate upcoming Chinese New Year

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- A troupe of Chinese artists from east China's Zhejiang Province performed centuries-old Wu Opera here on Friday evening to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival.

Held at the iconic Chaktomuk Theater in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, the show attracted approximately 800 spectators.

Among them were Ek Sam Ol, president of the Cambodia-China Friendship Association, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sackona, Women's Affairs Minister Ing Kantha Phavi, Health Minister Chheang Ra and Jiang Nan, chargé d'affaires ad interim and minister counsellor of the Chinese Embassy to Cambodia.

Wu Opera, also known as Jinhua Opera, is the second major regional operatic genre in Zhejiang. It first grew in popularity in Jinhua and its surrounding areas and was named after Wuzhou, the name of Jinhua in ancient China.

In her opening speech, Sackona said the event was crucial to further deepening cultural relations and people-to-people exchange between Cambodia and China.

"This will enable Cambodian spectators to gain better insights into ancient Chinese tradition, culture, and civilization," she said.

She said the Chinese New Year is broadly celebrated in Cambodia as it is a special occasion for family gatherings, particularly among Cambodians of Chinese descent.

Meanwhile, the minister expressed her heartfelt gratitude to China for its continuous support for the preservation and development of arts and culture in Cambodia.

At the event, the Zhejiang Wu Opera troupe performed six classic pieces, while Cambodian artists entertained the audience with the fairy dance, one of the traditional dances of the Royal Ballet of Cambodia. ■