Wu Opera Showcases Martial Arts and Storytelling in Phnom Penh Ahead of Lunar New Year

PHNOM PENH — Wu Opera, a traditional theatrical art from China’s Zhejiang Province, captivated nearly 800 spectators at Phnom Penh’s Chaktomuk Theatre on Friday evening with a performance celebrating the upcoming Chinese New Year.

Presented by the China Zhejiang Wu Opera Research Centre, the show featured a blend of martial arts, dance, music and storytelling. The programme included six classic pieces, opening with Lyu Bu Tries the Horse, a physically demanding martial performance, followed by The Goddess of Heaven Scatters Flowers, inspired by ancient Chinese mythology.

Other highlights included the martial drama Divergent Path, musical solos Hui Tune and Picking Dates, and a one-hour adaptation of Journey to the West titled Three Triumphs over the Skeletal Demon.

Cambodian artists also performed the Apsara dance, a signature element of the Royal Ballet of Cambodia, creating a cultural exchange that underscored shared Asian heritage.

Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sackona said the event helped strengthen people-to-people ties between Cambodia and China, while academic observers described it as a meaningful example of cultural diplomacy.

Wu Opera, also known as Jinhua Opera, originated in central Zhejiang and is known for its emphasis on martial skills and expressive movement.