Chinese operas fight for fans

The sixth annual Hubei Traditional Chinese Opera Gala was well-attended, but industry insiders say it's an anomaly and a new generation of enthusiasts is needed if the art form is to survive. Xu Feng and Yu Fei of Xinhua report in Wuhan.

Visitors to a Chinese opera festival in Central China's Hubei province over the past two weeks might come away with the impression that traditional operas are thriving.

"It's truly a happy festival for us and we've been waiting for too long," says Yang Jun, a renowned Huangmei Opera artist. The first Hubei Traditional Chinese Opera Gala was held in 2008. At that time, no one expected the gala would survive six years.