There's a Show

This work closely follows Jiangsu Province's regional cultural initiative, "Passing Down the Cultural Legacy, Celebrating the Splendor of Suzhou," and the Three-Year Action Plan for Revitalizing Theater (2026-2028). Rooted in the cultural heritage of the Jianghuai waterways in the Jiangsu cities of Yancheng, Huai'an, Taizhou, and Yangzhou, it draws on Huai Opera's distinctive history of originating in northern Jiangsu and reaching its height in Shanghai. Through the shifting fortunes, artistic dedication, and innovations of three generations of the Chen family, all Huai Opera performers, the story uses a realistic web-novel style to portray a century of change in Huai Opera: from its explosive popularity in Shanghai and nationwide fame, through changing times and a harsh industry winter, to the revival of its cultural legacy and a new push for revitalization today. It tells an authentic story of the living transmission of Jiangsu's local intangible cultural heritage and the preservation and innovation of its theatrical traditions in the new era. The title, You Xi, carries a double meaning: the water towns have Huai Opera, the cultural legacy is passed on, and revitalization is within reach.