On September 14, the phenomenal opera “Yimeng Mountain” appeared at the 2025 China Culture and Tourism Industry Expo.
“Towering Yimeng Mountain high, gentle Yi River long—we are all your children, you are our eternal father and mother…” On September 14, at the central stage of the 2025 China Culture and Tourism Industry Expo, the classic aria from the Shandong Song and Dance Theatre’s national opera “Yimeng Mountain” resonated, its profound and emotional lyrics instantly capturing the hearts of every audience member present.
The melody flowed like the Yi River, washing over the silent audience. Many held their breath, tears welling in their eyes, as if transported back to an era of raging war yet unshakable faith. The performance of these selected minutes was not only an artistic presentation but also a spiritual resonance.
Since its premiere in 2018, “Yimeng Mountain” has won major awards in Chinese stage art, including the “Five-One Project” Award and the Wenhua Grand Prize, achieving a “grand slam” of national literary and artistic awards. Over nearly seven years of performances, the opera “Yimeng Mountain” has toured north and south with over 300 shows, with Hubei being one of its most frequently performed provinces. At the closing stop of its 2024 tour, “Yimeng Mountain” came to the Wuhan Qintai Grand Theatre, where its exquisite sets, vivid performances, and moving music deeply touched the audience.
In the opera,情节 such as Haitang sacrificing her own child to protect the descendants of the Eighth Route Army and Linsheng giving his life for the revolutionary cause are derived from true historical stories. “These are not artistic fabrications but heroic monuments forged with flesh and blood,” explained the musical director.
“Hero” is never a fixed title; behind it are millions of ordinary people stepping forward in times of crisis and persevering silently in ordinary times. What “Yimeng Mountain” celebrates is the intense sentiment of soldiers and civilians sharing life and death amidst war—much like the courage of Hubei people who donned white armor and marched toward danger during the pandemic, or their resilience in uniting as one to protect their homes against flood peaks. It also echoes the unwavering spirit of the Dabie Mountain revolutionary base area: “One must, three must-nots”—must revolution, not money, not home, not life.
The return to Hubei for performances was a deliberate choice by the “Yimeng Mountain” production team. “Hubei is a land deeply rooted with red基因. The Yimeng spirit emphasizes ‘party-mass unity and soldier-civilian deep affection,’ which highly aligns with the spirit of solidarity and shared destiny displayed by Hubei people during pandemic and flood battles. We hope to accomplish a spiritual dialogue across mountains and rivers through this work,” the musical director expressed.
Veteran performer Tian Ruixue, who plays the male lead Linsheng, has toured with the opera for six years, personally witnessing every step of “Yimeng Mountain” from its inception to maturity. For this expo, facing a broader general audience, he and the team specially selected two melodic and emotionally rich arias from the beginning and end of the opera for rearrangement—”both easy to sing along and fitting the atmosphere.” Despite being just a few minutes long, the team rehearsed specifically for over half a month,反复磨合 transitions and emotional shifts.
In contrast to Tian Ruixue, Zhou Zixuan, who plays the female lead Haitang, made her debut at this expo. This Shandong girl, still pursuing her doctorate at the China Conservatory of Music, recently became the new lead actress through a national selection.
“Dozens from across the country applied, many with doctoral degrees,” Zhou Zixuan recalled the selection process, still excited. She had been singing excerpts from “Yimeng Mountain” since her undergraduate days and now truly stands on the stage of this production.
Portraying Haitang is both an opportunity and a challenge for her. Haitang’s husband and uncle both sacrificed themselves to protect the Eighth Route Army, requiring immense emotional intensity. “She is a very strong and great person,” Zhou Zixuan said of her character. Though her first official performance, she infused every detail on stage with her understanding of her hometown, art, and the Yimeng spirit, allowing it to shine with new-era brilliance.
Towering Yimeng Mountain, long Yi River. As the song concluded, applause surged toward the stage like a tide, lasting endlessly. From Shandong to Hubei, from theatres to expos, from professional enthusiasts to ordinary citizens, the essence of the Yimeng spirit continues to spread through song. It is reported that on the 26th and
