In his reply on Oct 23, Xi expressed his hope that the 70th anniversary will be a new starting point for the academy in implementing its task in art education, consolidating its original aspirations in pursuing art through serving the people and making greater contributions to inheriting traditional culture.

Gong says the reply letter reflects an emphasis on opera education and care for teachers and students, affirms the school's 70 years of work and extends an expectation for its future development.

Fu Jin, a professor at the academy, says that while senior artists have made great contributions to traditional art forms, their legacies have to be passed down to younger generations.

"The flourishing of Chinese operas relies on talent from different fields, such as directing, music, literature and stage arts. The reason our school has become a representative institution in the performing-arts sector is because we offer comprehensive education," Fu says.