Actors give an opera performance during a tour to villages in Putian City, southeast China's Fujian province during the Spring Festival of 1994.

BEIJING – The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, is regarded as the most celebrated holiday among Chinese, which signifies a time of joyful family reunions and a slew of cultural events. Among these celebrations, watching Chinese opera performances has been an important custom.

Traditional Chinese opera encompasses a diverse range of traditional opera genres, such as Peking Opera, Kunqu Opera and Sichuan Opera, as well as other distinctive performances by professional actors.

An amateur actor gives an opera performance at a park in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong province, ahead of the Spring Festival of 1994.

Actors give an opera performance during a tour to villages in Putian City, southeast China's Fujian province during the Spring Festival of 1995.

Villagers watch Sichuan Opera in Longfeng Town in Pengzhou City, southwest China's Sichuan province, ahead of the Spring Festival of 1996.

Actors give an opera performance during a bazaar in Guyuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region during the Spring Festival of 1997.

People watch an opera performance at a park in Wenling City, east China's Zhejiang province during the Spring Festival of 2003.

Opera enthusiasts give a performance at a park in Wenling City, east China's Zhejiang province during the Spring Festival of 2003.

Opera actors and audiences watch a performance in Liuao Village in Wenzhou City, east China's Zhejiang province during the Spring Festival of 2004.

Villagers watch an opera performance in Ziling Village in Qinyang City, central China's Henan province during the Spring Festival of 2006.

Young actors prepare for Henan Opera performance in Qinyang City, central China's Henan province during the Spring Festival of 2006.

Actors wear costumes backstage before an opera performance in Wuhu, east China's Anhui province during the Spring Festival of 2007.

People watch an opera performance in Fuyang City, east China's Anhui province during the Spring Festival of 2008.

An actor gives a local opera performance in Shedian Town in Sheqi County, central China's Henan province during the Spring Festival of 2011.

Visitors watch an opera performance in Changsha City, central China's Hunan province during the Spring Festival of 2011.

A folk artist gives an opera performance in Zouping County, east China's Shandong province after the Lantern Festival of 2012.

People watch an opera performance in Nanchang City, east China's Jiangxi province, ahead of the Spring Festival of 2013.

Children watch an opera performance in Weihui City, central China's Henan province, ahead of the Spring Festival of 2013.

Visitors watch an opera performance in Suzhou City, east China's Jiangsu province during the Spring Festival of 2013.

An actor gives an opera performance in Bozhou City, east China's Anhui province during the Spring Festival of 2019.

An actor gives an opera performance in Zixing City, central China's Hunan province during the Spring Festival of 2023.