Chinese opera is a cultural treasure, an outstanding art form that the Chinese nation has contributed to all of humanity. It stands among the highest achievements in traditional performing arts. 

Kunqu Opera, Cantonese Opera, Tibetan Opera, Peking Opera and Chinese shadow puppetry have all been listed as masterpieces of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, showcasing the typical practices of different categories and forms of traditional Chinese opera.

On Dec 26, 2017, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, formerly the Ministry of Culture, announced the results of a national opera census. China has 348 active opera genres, along with two forms of puppet and shadow theater. For the first time, a clear concept and standard of "genres" were used to systematically classify and comprehensively organize Chinese opera art, providing a more complete reflection of the artistic forms and living heritage of Chinese opera.

Over its 2,000-year development history, Chinese opera, with its strong cultural genes and long-standing developmental patterns, has adhered to the integrated norms of poetry, music, song and dance.

Following the artistic principle of narrating stories through song and dance, it has enriched itself with diverse modern qualities based on classical aesthetic ideals. This demonstrates the dialectics of creative transformation and innovative development. 

Through continuous artistic creation that keeps in pace with the times, Chinese opera has expanded into a rigorously structured, open and inclusive art and theoretical system, and has created hundreds of artistic and theatrical forms

Chinese opera has always been at the forefront of Chinese literary and artistic creation. By exploring and organizing traditional operas, newly adapted historical plays and modern operas, as well as through numerous innovations in content and form, it has preserved a large number of masterpieces and cultivated many outstanding artists. 

It is deeply embedded in the aesthetic life of the Chinese people. Through tens of thousands of excellent plays, rich and diverse artistic forms, and unique aesthetic styles, Chinese opera has advanced the creative rules of the Chinese nation in theatrical performance. This remarkable phenomenon stands out as a miracle of the world of theater.