The Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism recently granted the title of "Home of Zhejiang's Traditional Operas" to 21 counties – including county-level cities and districts – villages and townships in an effort to promote the development of the province's traditional operas.

It was the third such list released by the department thus far and two townships in Lishui city in the province were selected in the latest list.

A Huagu Opera is staged in Chengbei township. [Photo/Zhejiang Daily]

Chengbei township in Longquan – a county-level city administered by Lishui – was honored for its puppet show and Huagu Opera.

Chengbei has set up a special fund for such performances and has included the inheritance and development of intangible cultural heritage in its government work report. As a result, the township currently has five private opera troupes.

A Wuju Opera is staged in Xinjian township. [Photo/Zhejiang Daily]

Xinjian township in Jinyun county in Lishui was recognized for its Wuju Opera. The town now has six professional opera troupes and 25 non-governmental organizations. It also has set up a special fund to support the local opera troupes.