In a small theater in Maoming city in South China's Guangdong province, Cantonese Opera sees rise in followers amid commitment to safeguarding national jewel, Chen Nan reports.

In a small theater in Maoming city in South China's Guangdong province, Cantonese Opera echoes through the air, the rhythmic beat of drums, the melodic instruments and the soaring voices of performers filling the atmosphere with life and energy. This was the world Li Junsheng was born into.

Li's parents were both professional Cantonese Opera actors, and he grew up immersed in the art form. The stage was not a distant dream — it was part of his everyday life.

As a child, Li often sat in the family courtyard, watching his parents practice and rehearse. While his peers played outside, he absorbed the intricacies of Cantonese Opera — the physical movements, operatic melodies and nuanced expressions.

"Cantonese Opera is more than just a performance to me; it's a legacy passed down through generations," says Li, now 60.