Yangzhou University successfully performed Yang opera <Zheng Banqiao> in the auditorium of Wenhui Road Campus at 19:00 on the evening of March 18. This activity is organized by the Propaganda Department of the University Party Committee, co-organized by the Student Work Department (office) and the University Youth League Committee, and hosted by the college of music and the University Public Art Education Center. The Party Committee of the university, the union of the university, the Department of Social Cooperation and Service of the university, the Overseas Education College, and other functional departments and college leaders attended the event. The atmosphere was warm and attracted the enthusiastic participation of thousands of students.

　　The lead actor of the performance is Li Zhengcheng, a famous Yang Opera artist, first-class actor, representative inheritor of national intangible cultural heritage (Yang Opera), deputy director of Yangzhou Culture, Radio, Film and Tourism Bureau, and director of Yang Opera Research Institute. This audio-visual feast brings classic characters to life with superb acting and touching singing.

　　This opera has been selected as 2023 Jiangsu Province New Era stage art excellent plays tour, 2023 Jiangsu Province stage art fine creation support project key investment plays, 2023 Zijin Culture and Art Festival new plays performance. It won the 2023 Zijin Culture and Art Festival Excellent Play Award, the 18th China Drama Festival Excellent Play Award, and the 2024 large-scale stage play and work creation funding project of the National Art Foundation.

　　The whole opera focuses on Zheng Banqiao’s life experience of living in Yangzhou twice in middle age and old age. By showing his interaction with various characters, Zheng Banqiao’s unique personality charm and colorful life course are deeply depicted.

　　Among them, the wonderful fate between Zheng Banqiao and his wife Rao Wuniang, the separation and joy with the official Lu Baosun, and the feud between the salt merchant Zhang Cong, not only vividly shows Zheng Banqiao’s unique character, life trajectory and profound artistic attests, but also more ink in the official virtue thought of Banqiao’s way of being an official. As the opera plays, Zheng Banqiao’s lifelong ambition is “to make contributions to the earth, use the word to benefit people.” The general secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly quoted Zheng Banqiao’s poem, “Don't be an official without the people in your heart” to educate us. Party members in the new era should take Mr. Zheng Banqiao’s feelings for the people as a model to learn, and know their responsibilities in the process of achieving high-quality development, have the courage to take the responsibility, and take the lead in fulfilling their responsibilities. This is also the profound connotation of the people-oriented thought that the Yang Opera <Zheng Banqiao> wants to convey.