Kunqu Opera play Six Chapters of a Floating Lifeis brought to audience in Shanghai in an attempt to take the hero and heroine's dream for an ideal life of the literati to the contemporary age, and make it relevant to everyone. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Encouraged by the success of the premiere, SGT has decided to present a second round of performances over Nov 22-24.

"We hope to add the play to our repertoire so that it can go on to be staged for many years to come," says Zhang Xiaoding, the general manager of SGT.

Shen Fu (1763-1825) recounted his life in Suzhou with his wife, Chen Yun, in the autobiographical book Six Chapters of a Floating Life.

In the book he recalled the happiness of ordinary family life, the casual discussions with his wife about literature and art, the experience of traveling together and of enduring hardships and poverty, until losing his wife to illness away from home.

The book has been popular in China since the late 19th century, and loved for its vivid writing and the deep emotions.

Six Chapters of a Floating Life has been translated into many languages.