In the winter of the third year of the Emperor Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1575), Hu Han, the governor of Chenzhou, drank liquor, listened to Kunqu opera, and recited poems with his aides in the Wanhuayan Cave in the west of the city. After returning to the city, he wrote the “Wanhuayan”, which is the earliest record of Kunqu Opera in the history of Chenzhou.

 

 

 

Hunan Kunqu Opera has developed a pure, delicate, and graceful singing style in music, and formed an artistic style that emphasizes both performance and singing, which continues the artistic achievements of the southern opera and Zaju in performance. 

 

 

 

The Hunan provincial government organized old artists to excavate its artistic heritage in 1956, and the Hunan Kunqu Opera Troupe was established in Chenzhou in 1960.

 

 

 

General Xiao Ke praised Hunan Kunqu Opera after watching a performance given by the Hunan Kunqu Opera Troupe in Chenzhou in the autumn of 1981.

 

 

 

Hunan Kunqu Opera Troupe is one of the eight major Kunqu opera troupes in China. 

 

Located in Beihu District of Chenzhou City, it is the only professional Kunqu opera art performance group in the six provinces of the central and southern China, and even in the south China. It has complete facilities, like the exhibition hall, rehearsal rooms, and the stage. There are also banyan trees, rockeries, pavilions and water pavilions in the courtyard.

 

 

 

Hunan Kunqu Opera Troupe has performed many classic Kunqu opera dramas over many years, such as the “Peony Pavilion”, “White Rabbit “, and “Hairpin”.

 

 

 

Hunan Kunqu Opera Troupe has created more than 60 major operas and over 100 opera highlights in the past over half a century. They have also performed in Beijing and overseas multiple times, becoming a cultural brand for promoting Chenzhou and showcasing China’s excellent traditional culture.