The Wenzhou delegation to this year's session of the Zhejiang People's Congress holds a panel discussion to review the provincial government's work report on Jan 25. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

Wenzhou deputies attending the first session of the 13th Zhejiang People's Congress were impressed by the increasing number of cultural halls mentioned in the provincial government's work report on Jan 25.

During the panel discussion, a specific number listed in the report caught the attention of Wenzhou officials. The Zhejiang provincial government announced plans to build 3,000 new cultural halls in the coming year. "The number was previously steady at 1,000 new cultural halls per year, but it will triple in 2018," said Wang Xiaoshan, vice director of the cultural center in Cangnan county, Wenzhou.

Wang viewed this as a positive sign, saying that the increased construction would lead to more cultural halls in less developed rural areas and give Zhejiang people more opportunities to experience the rich culture and history.

In the last few years, Wenzhou has built a total of 1,174 cultural halls around the city.

You Tengteng, a young opera performer and vice director of Yongjia's Kunju Opera troupe, said the cultural halls and reading rooms are ideal disseminators of Wenzhou culture. She also pointed out that there are over 9,000 performances being held in rural areas every year.

You has gained much experience performing in rural communities. "We can feel the villagers' excitement," she said. In 2017, the troupe gave 130 opera performances at over 30 cultural halls in Yongjia county.

Another deputy, Lan Ximing, Party chief of Wangshendong village in Pingyang county, discussed a number of cultural performances held by the She people at the local cultural hall. The hall was built in 2016 and has become a platform for demonstrating the peoples' singing and dancing virtuosity. "Our villagers are currently rehearsing for their performance at the upcoming Spring Festival gala," Lan said.