Austerity rule leads to fewer shows

China National Opera & Dance Drama Theater, one of the nine national performing arts companies under the Ministry of Culture, is experiencing a sharp decline in performances this year due to the central government's austerity measures.

Fan Ming, deputy director of performance at the China National Opera & Dance Drama Theater, said the theater held around 90 performances through the first six months of the year, a significant drop compared to nearly 400 in 2012. Revenue this year has dropped by around 5 million yuan ($800,000).

Fan attributed the decline to the Party's frugality rules, including the Eight-Point anti-bureaucracy and formalism rules, and an order from the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee to restrict expenses and the arrangement of galas by art troupes.