Kunshan

Kunshan – September 25, 2026 -- The 2026 Chinese Opera Gala opened September 23 in Zhouzhuang, launching a program of performances, exhibitions and cultural experiences running through November. Co-hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Jiangsu Provincial People's Government, the gala presents 57 excerpts and 10 full-length productions spanning 46 opera genres.

Sixteen organizations received recognition for opera media work

At the opening ceremony, 16 organizations received commemorative certificates for outstanding opera-related media projects from across China. Organizers also introduced The China Kunqu Opera Blue Book 2026 and unveiled Meeting Liang Chenyu — The Origins of Kunqu Opera, an AI-generated micro-drama produced in Kunshan.

Kunshan – September 20, 2026 -- The 2026 Cross-Strait (Kunshan) Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival opened on the evening of Sept. 16 in Kunshan, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, drawing visitors from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival together.

This year's festival spans two main lantern display areas, Huiju Square and Zhouzhuang, alongside a cross-Strait art exhibition, a traditional performing arts fair, and a forest-based "Moonlit Cultural Gathering."

Winners of a youth lantern design contest received their awards at the opening.

At the opening ceremony, organizers presented commemorative certificates to winners of the seventh "Kunshan Mazu Cup" Youth Lantern Design Competition. The evening also marked the premiere of "Crossing the Sea," an episode in the micro-drama series "Wait for Me to Come Home," based on a true story about returning a veteran's ashes to his hometown.