In 2013, while still a student, Lu met Mei Baojiu. He had come to watch her performance of The Legend of the White Snake. After the curtain call, he stepped onto the stage beside her, beaming and applauding her performance. From then on, she visited him regularly, learning from him not just on stage, but off it as well.

"It's a very bold attempt, as all the programs are challenging," says Shen Shihua, a Kunqu Opera master and professor at the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts, who once taught Lu Kunqu Opera. "But young actors cannot stay in the same place forever. They must take bold steps forward. I feel deeply gratified watching my disciple's journey."

Zhu Jia, Party secretary of the Beijing theater company, notes that 2026 marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Mei Lanfang Peking Opera Troupe, one integral part of the company. The theater will host a series of commemorative events throughout the year.

"Lu's tour is another way to pay tribute to Mei-style classics and pass on the cultural heritage," he says. "Through the performances of younger actors, this art form will continue to thrive and evolve."

Contact the writer at chennan@chinadaily.com.cn