Huangmei Opera

The Huangmei opera is believed to have originated during the 18th century in the the Anqing region of southwestern Anhui province. It is also called the "Caicha" opera which means "tea-picking" because this style originated from the folk songs and ditties that were sung by the women who were picking the tea leaves.

This form is known for its simple style of singing, its gentle movements and expressiveness. Originally the Huangmei  opera began with little skits but by the mid nineteenth century it started to add full-length plays to its repertoire. (Idema 2014). The stories are mainly focused on folk tales and have a humorous element. The dress and makeup is simple compared to its counterparts and rarely uses masks. 

The Huangmei Opera is a light and cheerful show that is easy to follow- making this one of the most popular forms of Chinese Opera.