Asked by Carrie | Mar.01,2015 15:17

Cantonese opera is a regional form of Chinese opera that evolved from theatrical forms of the north and neighbouring regions. Like Peking Opera, it involves music, singing, martial arts, acrobatics and acting. There's elaborate face painting, glamorous period customes and for some of the roles, high-pitched falsetto singing. But compared to its northern cousin, it tends to feature more scholars than warriors in its tales of courtship and romance.

You don't have to understand or even like Cantonese opera to appreciate its an important aspect of Cantonese culture - there is no shortage of related attractions, such as Bahe Academy and Luanyu Tang in Guangzhou, a festival and a props speciality shop in Chaozhou.

If you do decide to catch a show at Culture Park in Guangzhou, those exotic strains could years later become the key that unlocks your memory of your travels in China.