Du Yuzhen is a top actress at the Jining Shandong Bangzi Theater and serves as a deputy to the National People's Congress. [Photo/WeChat account: gh_ccfd1293bad8]

Du Yuzhen, a deputy to the National People's Congress and a top actress at the Jining Shandong Bangzi Theater, is dedicated to the preservation and innovation of Shandong Bangzi, a traditional form of opera in Shandong province.

In Shandong's Jining, this opera, which has been influenced by Grand Canal culture, has become a unique part of the local culture. During several performances, Du found that many young people have developed a strong interest in Shandong Bangzi.

"As opera workers, we need to cater to young people, listen to their voices, and get them interested in the art form," she said.

In 2024, to get young people interested in learning traditional opera, Du proposed addressing the lack of resources for opera education in primary and secondary schools, based on findings from her research. This initiative has helped to promote opera education in the local area.

Furthermore, inspired by the stories of the plays she performs, Du proposed integrating intangible cultural heritage preservation with local tourism to further expand the market space for traditional opera.

Scenic areas like Nishan Sacred Land in Qufu, Shandong are now establishing regular performance areas for Shandong Bangzi, aiming to create a new cultural and tourism experience allowing people to tour the hometown of Confucius while enjoying Shandong Bangzi. This is expected to spark interest among young people.