On the afternoon of July 4, a distinctive traditional Chinese cultural experience was brought to the classroom of the China-EU Institute for Clean and Renewable Energy (ICARE). Nearly 50 Chinese and international teachers and students immersed themselves in the unique artistic appeal of Han Opera, a national-level intangible cultural heritage. Hosted by the School of Art of Huazhong University of Science and Technology and organized by ICARE, the event specially invited Ms. Zhu Min, a National First Class Actress from Hubei Opera and Dance Drama Theatre, together with her professional cast, to deliver an on-site lecture and performance. Dr. Gao Shan, Vice Dean of the School of Art, and Dr. Zou Mingqing, Vice Dean of ICARE, attended the cultural experience activity.

At the start of the event, Ms. Zhu Min began her special presentation. She traced the origin and evolution of Han Opera in a gentle and engaging manner, analyzed its artistic features through lively and accessible explanations, and described the cultural essence of Han Opera in an easy-to-understand way. Her captivating narration drew the audience in. Chinese and international teachers and students experiencing this traditional opera for the first time were fully absorbed and developed a keen interest in Han Opera.

During the performance session, Ms. Zhu Min delivered an exquisite rendition of classic Han Opera excerpts including The Cosmic Sword and The Second Plum-Blossom. On stage, the artist sang with a melodious, resonant and richly expressive voice, complemented by fluid body movements that perfectly embodied the core performing techniques of Han Opera: singing, recitation, acting and acrobatics. The flowing silk sleeves rose and fell gracefully, accompanied by vivid facial expressions. Every movement conveyed the poetic beauty of traditional Chinese opera. Through this vibrant live performance, Chinese and international teachers and students encountering Han Opera for the first time gained a direct understanding of its performance system and deeply appreciated the unique artistic appeal and cultural power of traditional Chinese culture.

To further increase participants’engagement and sense of immersion, an interactive opera make-up and styling session was arranged. Professional make-up artists on-site selected two students at random to experience traditional opera facial make-up, hairstyling and elaborate costume dressing. Inspired by the immersive atmosphere, other students also volunteered to try on distinctive opera costumes and learned basic opera gestures and stage steps from the professional performers. The participants imitated the movements attentively and gained first-hand insights. In a relaxed and enjoyable setting, they fully immersed themselves in the unique charm of traditional opera culture. Many took photos to capture this extraordinary cultural journey through China’s treasured art form.

Drawing on high-quality resources from the professional opera troupe, this event moved beyond the conventional lecture format. Adopting a three-dimensional model of “lecture + live performance + hands-on experience”, it built a valuable platform for Chinese and international students to engage with traditional Chinese opera culture.

Bringing the cultural course onto campus allowed young participants from China and abroad to step outside their academic curricula. Through this brand-new, close-range and interactive experience, they connected with the cultural lineage of traditional Chinese opera and appreciated the profound heritage of Chinese art, thereby promoting cultural exchange and mutual learning between China and other countries.