TheNingbo Municipal Yongju Opera was founded in January 1953, as the only professional Yongju Opera troupe. Yongju Opera is famous for its exquisite, realistic and flowing style while touching on a variety of subjects and is popular among people in Ningboand Zhoushan cities of East China'sZhejiang Province and ShanghaiMunicipality of East China'sJiangsu Province.

In the 1950s, the troupe's acting cast included Jin Yulan, Xu Qinxia and Wang Wenbin who performed a number of popular plays such as The Rain Falls and Mother Gets Remarried, Half Scissors, and Jiang Xixi and Boy with Bright Eyes.

In the 1980s, the troupe created and staged Love of the Prodigal, Chief Luo Is Laid Off and Family through Hardship. Family through Hardship was especially successful, winning awards for best play and performance at the 2nd China Opera Festival for best performance, music, actor and actress in the '95 China Contemporary Opera Joint Performance.

Major artists of the troupe include top-notch performers Cao Dingying, Yang Liuting, and Yang Jialing and first-class playwright Wang Xinhou.

The troupe now has its own theater with a capacity of nearly 600 seats.

Address: No.121, Lantian Road, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province

Post code: 315010

Tel: (0574) 7113095