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Hong joined Ma Sze-tsang's Cantonese opera troupe traveling across Guangdong province and Guangxi during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-45), to boost the army's and people's morale and raise money for the resistance.

She started her career on the big screen in 1947 in Hong Kong and starred in more than 90 movies in the following eight years.

It was surprising when the Cantonese opera and movie star gave up her fame in Hong Kong and decided to return to the mainland in 1955 upon then premier Zhou Enlai's invitation.

Hong offered great support to the development of Cantonese opera in Hong Kong, although she left. For example, she attended the reopening ceremony of Hong Kong's Sunbeam Theater and sang Praise of Lychee last May at the age of 88.

The Cantonese opera industry, the media and the public have all been discussing the future development of the art after the banner bearer's death. However, Yu hopes that the discussion on rejuvenating the industry will continue.

"Hong Xiannu passed away with concerns about the shortage of new plays closely related to contemporary society and young talents, especially scriptwriters. Solving these problems requires our long-term efforts," says Yu from the Guangdong Cantonese Opera Theater.

"Hong Xiannu had been working hard to bring forth new ideas to the traditional art to make it appealing to young audiences."

Banners that read "Her life belongs to art" and "Her art belongs to people" hung from the two sides of Hong's coffin at the funeral.

"This is the most apt description of my mother's life," Ma Dingchang, Hong's son, says.

"Now she can rest. I believe she is consoled to have received condolences from the Party, the country and the people."

Related:

Life and times of Hong Xiannu