Hello and welcome to this edition of "In the Spotlight", a show featuring arts, culture and showbiz from right here in China. I'm your host, Li Ningjing.

First up on today's program, is a taster of the charm of Yue Opera, as top Yue opera troupes bring the art form's unique southern flavor to the northern city of Beijing.

Next, we'll learn some ancient Chinese characters whilst checking out the latest research project on the Forbidden City.

"Deciphering a word in an oracle bone script feels like discovering a new supernova."

Staying in the field of cultural studies, we'll travel to the Mogao Grottoes in Northwest China. The treasure trove is now being digitalized with the help of the latest technology.

And last but not least, we'll introduce you the book "New Museums in China" by American writer Clare Jacobson.

"I try to show a good representation of different areas in China and also different types of museums, from art museum to car museum, to better collide of collections."

Plenty of entertaining and informative stories are up ahead on "In the Spotlight," so stay with us.

If you're a fan of Chinese opera but are getting tired of the bold and vigorous style of opera from the North, why not try something different?

Recently, top Yue opera troupes have swept the capital with their unique southern flavor.

Reporter:

On the stage of the National Centre for the Performing Arts, wearing long flowing gowns and singing rolling and gentle tunes, artists portray the tragic love story between ancient poet Lu You and his wife Tang Wan.

Not only is the performance elegant and graceful, but more importantly, the opera is performed exclusively by women.

This is Yue opera, a unique form of drama and musical theatre born in Zhejiang Province, southeastern China.

Traditionally, just like Takarazuka revue in Japan, Yue opera used to be an all-women affair. Actresses dressed up to play male roles. Although men start to make their appearance on the stage in recent years, but still, female who play male parts are much more popular.

Originating from the folk tales and ballads of local farmers, Yue opera borrows many aspects from traditional theatre and even western culture. Featuring soft melodies and exquisite performances, it blends literary classics, fairy tales and historical stories.

Thanks to its lyrical style and romantic nature, this local art form, merely a century old, has captivated audiences nationwide and has been recognized as the most popular drama form after Peking opera.

However, according to Mao Weitao, head of the Zhejiang Baihua Yue Opera Troupe, the situation of Yue Opera has deteriorated in recent times

"For today's audience, it is a piece of history and tradition; it is very outworn, or in other words, it has been marginalized. Therefore, we must let more people hear it, modernize our show and allow more people to accept this art form."

In order to promote Yue opera, leading troupes and artists have been invited to perform in the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing from late February till mid-March.

They bring a list of classic plays, such as "Dream of the Red Chamber", adapted from famous Chinese classics, narrating the rise and fall of a wealthy family; and "The Butterfly Lovers", a China's equivalent of Romeo and Juliet.

Opera lovers have high expectations about the performances.

"Two years ago, I watched "The Butterfly Lovers" performed by first-rate actresses in this theatre. This time, the cast is different, which is definitely a highlight of the show."

Some audience members have even brought friends from other lands along to watch the show.

"I booked the tickets a month ago in case all the good seats sold out. See, she flew all the way from Japan to watch the play."

In the star-studded show, "The Butterfly Lovers", first-rate performers from Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Fujian gather together to play same characters on the same stage; helping to demonstrate the different schools of Yue opera. In the end, all the performers wave colorful long sleeves in a group dance to manifest two separated lovers turning into butterflies. The subtlety and distinctive aesthetics displayed during the performance reinforces the eternal theme of love.

Besides the classics, these troupes also bring fresh pieces to the stage, such as a new adaptation of the hit TV show "Palace of Desires," and a play recomposed from the novel "The Family" by novelist Bajin. Reportedly, compared with traditional plays, the staging and costumes for these new shows will be a real surprise. More importantly, the cast is no longer limited to women.

However, according to Wu Fenghua, a renowned performer of Yue opera, the changes are not enough.

"First of all, I think we need to be creative when searching for stories, but at the same time following the established traditions. We could learn from other countries. By integrating Chinese drama and foreign culture, we may help develop Yue opera. Moreover, the music needs to be changed. The plays should bring brand new audio-visual experiences to our audiences."