The 2026 Chinese Peking Opera Art Troupe Macao Performance and Exchange Event (2026年 “中國京劇藝術團”赴澳門演出交流活動) will present the classic Peking Opera production “Han Ming Fei” (“漢明妃”) at Teatro Alegria (Wing Lok) on September 5, with free tickets available to the public starting Friday, according to a statement by the Macao Foundation (FM) yesterday.
“Han Ming Fei” stands for “Concubine Ming of the Han Dynasty”.
Co-organised by the Macao Foundation and the China Peking Opera Arts Foundation, the cultural exchange programme has been held annually since 2009, the statement noted, adding that by bringing prominent Chinese mainland youth and professional troupes to Macau, the initiative aims to deepen local appreciation of the nation’s heritage while aiming to enrich residents’ lives.
According to the statement, this year’s production will be performed by the Inner Mongolia Art Theatre Peking Opera Troupe (內蒙古藝術劇院京劇團). Formed by graduates of top Beijing performing arts academies and designated a National Key Provincial Peking Opera Troupe in 2005, the multi-ethnic ensemble aims to bring deep cultural resonance to the story of Wang Zhaojun – having previously won an Outstanding Play Award at the 5th China Peking Opera Festival for their 2008 production “The Great Desert Zhaojun” (“大漠昭君”), the statement said.
“Han Ming Fei” tells the story of Wang Zhaojun, a court beauty during the Han Dynasty (202 BCE – 9 CE, 25–220 CE) – because she refuses to bribe court painter Mao Yanshou, he intentionally paints an unflattering portrait of her, causing Emperor Yuan to ignore her. Upon later discovering her true beauty, the emperor confers upon her the title of Concubine Ming and orders Mao’s execution. Mao flees to the Xiongnu* and presents them with Zhaojun’s portrait, prompting the Xiongnu to demand her hand under threat of military force – forcing the emperor to reluctantly send her away to seal a peace alliance.
Free admission tickets will be distributed starting on Friday at Teatro Alegria, the UNESCO Historic Centre of Macau in Nape, and the Macao Foundation’s office on the 7th floor of the Government Office Building in Estrada do Dique Oeste, Coloane, the statement said, underlining that each person may collect up to two tickets on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.
*The Xiongnu (匈奴) were a powerful confederation of nomadic tribes that dominated the Asian Steppe from the 3rd century BCE to the 1st century CE, frequently clashing and trading with Han Dynasty China. Their heartland was centred directly in modern-day Mongolia, though at their peak their empire stretched across Inner Mongolia, southern Siberia, northern China, and parts of Central Asia. – Gemini
This poster provided by the Macao Foundation (FM) yesterday promotes the classic Peking Opera production “Han Ming Fei” to be staged at Teatro Alegria (Wing Lok) on Saturday, September 5.
