A kindergarten in Qingdao West Coast New Area has been promoting Maoqiang opera in its regular teaching to enhance children's understanding of local traditional opera culture, as well as to cultivate their interest in the traditional art from an early age.

Maoqiang opera is a folk opera style developed from local folk songs that gained popularity in the 1860s. It originated in the Jiaozhou area of the Jiaodong Peninsula in eastern China. In 2006, it was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage item.

A teacher teaches a Maoqiang opera class in Qingdao West Coast New Area. [Photo/IC]

Kids learn Maoqiang opera in Qingdao West Coast New Area. [Photo/IC]

The class helps kids learn about local traditional culture in Qingdao West Coast New Area. [Photo/IC]

A student dressed in Chinese opera costume learns to perform Maoqiang opera in a kindergarten in Qingdao West Coast New Area. [Photo/IC]

Kids learn to sing Maoqiang opera. [Photo/IC]

A teacher helps a student with the Chinese opera costume. [Photo/IC]