Going for a song

With a history of more than 300 years, Anhui Opera is widely acknowledged as a formative influence on Peking Opera, one of China's best-known cultural treasures.

The seed of Peking Opera was planted in 1790, when the "Four Great Anhui Troupes" arrived in Beijing for the celebrations of the 80th birthday of the Qianlong Emperor (1711-1799). Qianlong, who ruled from 1735 to 1796, is considered to be one of the greatest emperors of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). He visited southern China a number of times, and, according to legend, during a trip to Anhui province he decided to dress as an ordinary citizen and ordered his retainers to do the same.

One day, when Qianlong and his retinue were seeking shelter from an unexpected rain shower, they saw people watching an opera in the ancestral hall of a local family. The emperor is said to have been deeply impressed with the performance.