XISHUANGBANNA, Yunnan - The theater at Manting Royal Garden in Xishuangbanna was full on Oct. 29 as Wushabaluo, a Dai Zhangha opera, opened to an audience of tourists from across China. "Hearing authentic Zhangha" is fast becoming a cultural experience visitors to this southern Yunnan prefecture do not want to miss.

A scene from the Dai Zhangha opera Wushabaluo. (Photo/Deng Nan)

Zhangha, meaning "those who can sing" in the Dai language, is a traditional Dai storytelling and singing art passed down for centuries. It accompanies almost every important moment of Dai life, festivals, weddings, funerals and prayers for blessings, and was inscribed in 2006 on China's first national intangible cultural heritage list.

A scene from the Dai Zhangha opera Wushabaluo. (Photo/Deng Nan)

Wushabaluo is the first large-scale heroic epic opera in the history of Dai Zhangha opera. Adapted from a palm-leaf manuscript epic dated to 992 AD, it follows a princess and a prince from rival kingdoms whose love is consumed by tribal war, and whose sacrifice ultimately awakens a chaotic world. The story conveys the Dai people's reverence for peace and their belief in inclusive goodwill.

A scene from the Dai Zhangha opera Wushabaluo. (Photo/Deng Nan)

The production also reflects how Zhangha is being reworked for contemporary stages. "Traditional Zhangha was performed at weddings, funerals and other folk occasions, with artists sitting on the ground while singing and performing," said Sun Jie, who plays the male lead and heads the dance team of the Xishuangbanna Prefecture Ethnic Culture Troupe. On stage, singing and acting are now separated, making the art more accessible to today's audiences and helping more people follow the story.

A scene from the Dai Zhangha opera Wushabaluo. (Photo/Deng Nan)

Sun is already thinking beyond Xishuangbanna. "The China-Laos Railway makes travel very convenient now. I hope to bring Zhangha to Laos and Thailand," he said.

A scene from the Dai Zhangha opera Wushabaluo. (Photo/Deng Nan)

That ambition speaks to a broader resonance. Zhangha is also widely practiced in neighboring countries with linguistic and cultural ties to the Dai, including Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, giving the art a natural audience beyond China's borders. At home, Zhangha remains a living tradition as well as a staged one: on Oct. 27, artists in Dai dress performed classic pieces and newly composed songs in the streets of Jinghong, drawing crowds of residents and visitors. 

A scene from the Dai Zhangha opera Wushabaluo. (Photo/Deng Nan)

From the theater to the street, Dai Zhangha is growing without losing its roots. For Xishuangbanna, the centuries-old art is not only heritage to be protected but a cultural calling card that keeps drawing travelers, and a bridge that connects the region to its neighbors.