This year marks the 18th anniversary of Kunqu Opera's inclusion in UNESCO's First Batch of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Each May, Kunqu Opera troupes gather in Zhejiang Province in eastern China for a series of stage performances to celebrate the event, as well as carry out workshops on the future development of this traditional opera style. (Photos: CGTN)

A Kunqu Opera artist performs on the stage.

A Kunqu Opera artist plays the Monkey King on the stage.