Spectacular drone displays will meet dynamic martial arts performances during the 2025 Spring Festival Chinese Opera Gala at the end of January. The performance will feature Wukong, also known as the Monkey King, a legendary figure in China and increasingly recognized worldwide. Hu Chao has more from one of the gala's rehearsals.
Martial arts performances merge with drone displays in a showcase of creativity that promises to amaze audiences on the thirtieth of January. The lead role will be played by Wukong, the Monkey King, from the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West.
HE YUCHEN, Director, "Moving Across the Sky and Earth" "We will attempt to let the actors and drones interact with each other. The actors and the figures created by drones, like the Erlang Shen and the Heavenly Dog, engage in a battle. No one has done this before. It's definitely something to look forward to."
The program is named Zong Heng Tian Di, or Moving Across the Sky and Earth. Thousands of drones will work together to create visuals of different figures, in cooperation with the opera's actors.
HE YUCHEN, Director, "Moving Across the Sky and Earth" "It's a big challenge. With 3,000 drones, we need to carefully design the scene. The human actors appear small, but the visuals created by the drones are vast. So we've set up a six-meter-high platform. Every lens and focal length must be meticulously planned to create an exciting perspective ratio."
Hao Jie, a veteran Peking opera actor, performs Wukong on the high platform, a sub-stage of the gala. He's been playing the role of Wukong for more than a decade.
HAO JIE, National First-Class Actor, Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company "Our program is a collision between drone technology and traditional culture. It's sure to have a strong visual impact when broadcast. I'm really looking forward to it."
This program also features performances on the gala's main stage. It's one of the many innovations planned for this year's gala.
HU CHAO, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province "The gala incorporates modern multimedia technology into the traditional performances of Chinese opera, creating a mesmerizing audio-visual feast for the audience."
Held at the Taiyuan Ancient City in Shanxi Province, the 2025 Spring Festival Chinese Opera Gala will celebrate the rich traditions and cultural value of Chinese opera in a performance that promises to attract attention from both domestic and overseas audiences. Hu Chao, CGTN, Shanxi Province.