On the evening of August 15, the original Yangko opera Ballad of Mountains and Seas, produced by Haiyang City of Yantai, Shandong Province, premiered. This meticulously crafted production, using Haiyang Yangko as its artistic foundation and incorporating Jiaodong's revolutionary culture as its soul, employed innovative stage language to interpret the heroic legends of the descendants of Haiyang locals. The opera has been successfully selected for the list of outstanding theatrical performances in Shandong Province to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as announced by the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism.

Yangko Performance

Photo provided by the Information Office of Haiyang Municipal people's Government

Yangko Performance

Photo provided by the Information Office of Haiyang Municipal people's Government

　　Ballad of Mountains and Seas masterfully integrates the bold, unrestrained spirit of Haiyang Yangko with modern theatrical storytelling. Through innovative incorporation of dance dialogues and multimedia lighting design, the production creates a striking juxtaposition between the intensity of revolutionary history and the natural beauty of Haiyang's landscapes.

　　During Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Haiyang was not only known for its vibrant Yangko tradition, but also served as the backdrop for gripping tales of mine warfare. The opera unfolds through the feud between the Yu family, descendants of the Mantis Style Yangko, and the Wang family, heirs to the Eight Trigrams Style Yangko, weaving a complex narrative of intertwined destinies. Against the backdrop of war, the characters' personal entanglements and patriotic devotion merge amidst blood and fire, composing an epic Ballad of Mountains and Seas that resonates across generations.

　　In recent years, Haiyang has leveraged its rich revolutionary heritage to create outstanding works that highlight both its red culture and regional characteristics. These productions - including the dance drama Mine Warfare, modern Beijing operas Soul of Yangko and Mother of Lei Township, and the Yangko opera Ballad of Mountains and Seas - draw upon the national intangible cultural heritage of Haiyang Yangko, injecting new vitality and contemporary relevance into the region's revolutionary cultural legacy.