The second Shun Yi · Yi Yun Chao Bai Cultural Festival opened on Saturday at the Beijing Shunyi Grand Theatre, ushering in an autumn season of music, drama, dance, opera, and family shows.

The opening night featured a new musical Northward (Beishang), adapted from a Mao Dun Literature Prize-winning novel, which presented a sweeping historical narrative along the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal.

As Shunyi's signature cultural program, the festival aims to establish an international, branded, and high-quality platform for performing arts at the district level. This year's edition offers a diverse lineup across multiple genres, bringing both artistic excellence and cultural enrichment to the local community.

Highlights in the coming months include a major national dance drama presented in a newly refined staging this October; a contemporary opera centered on the South-to-North Water Diversion Project; and an original Macao musical about composer Xian Xinghai, whose work has inspired generations. The Beijing Peking Opera Theatre will also present a series of classics, alongside popular concerts and dramas rooted in Beijing culture.

Family programming features an immersive stage adaptation of a classic science-fiction undersea adventure and an interactive magic show designed to spark children’s curiosity and invite audience participation.

The festival also embraces international exchange, welcoming overseas troupes such as a Russian ensemble that will present a gala of song and dance in September. With a total of 14 productions and 25 performances running through December, the festival highlights Shunyi's role in advancing Beijing's ambition of becoming both a national cultural hub and a performing arts capital.