The year 2026 marks the 215th anniversary of the birth of Cheng Changgeng, the founding master of Peking Opera.
In his hometown of Qianshan, Anhui, a grand operatic celebration spanning time and tradition will be held to honor this great pioneer and carry forward his artistic legacy.
The competition will officially open on July 26 at the Xuehuli Grand Stage in Qianshan and close on August 2 at Qianshan Cultural Park.

The year 2026 also marks the crucial opening stage of Qianshan’s three-year plan for theatrical revitalization.
As scheduled, the 3rd “Tianzhushan Cup” Youth Peking Opera Amateur Competition is returning in full splendor.
This is far more than an ordinary contest — it is a complete chain of cultural inheritance from young learners to established masters, a cultural bridge connecting the stage with everyday life, and a vivid example of deep integration between culture, tourism, and lasting public engagement.

This year’s competition will break away from the model of a single venue, with three major spaces working together to create a dynamic event experience:

1. Qianshan Cultural Park — the main competition venue, where young contestants will take the stage and demonstrate their skills in singing, recitation, acting, and movement.
2. Jinghuang Art Museum at Tianzhushan Study Travel Base — the masterclass venue, where renowned artists will teach, answer questions, and provide professional comments and guidance to contestants.
3. Xuehuli Grand Stage in Qianshan — the performance and challenge arena, where showcase performances and stage competitions will take turns under the evening lights, transforming the space into a spotlight for the public.

The competition is designed to create a full-circle inheritance system across all age groups.
Children build their foundation through learning, young performers display their talents in competition, established masters generously pass on their skills, and opera enthusiasts exchange ideas and refine their craft together.
On and off the stage, participants of all generations — young, middle-aged, and senior — will form an unbroken chain of artistic transmission.

A special segment, “Masterclass + Contestant Review,” has also been arranged for this year’s event.
Well-known Peking Opera artists will come to Qianshan to teach face to face, share professional techniques, and provide one-on-one guidance.
This makes the event not just a competition, but also a high-level public opera class where every child who loves Peking Opera has the chance to be seen, inspired, and guided.

At the same time, the competition will connect multiple scenarios, including study travel, tourism, and cultural consumption.
Contestants from other places and their families will be encouraged to explore Qianshan by climbing Tianzhushan, visiting Xuehu, enjoying Peking Opera performances, and purchasing cultural and creative products.
With opera as the medium and tourism as the connecting thread, the event aims to transform short-term attention into long-term appeal, allowing more people to remember a city because of a single performance.

From July 26 to August 2, 2026, let us step into the hometown of Cheng Changgeng and listen to the younger generation sing the great art of Peking Opera.