The globally celebrated Cantonese opera legend, Hong Xiannü, was born in Guangzhou and rose to prominence across the Pearl River Delta. With a career spanning more than seven decades, she enthralled audiences with her distinctive vocal technique—the iconic "Hong Style". Her artistry earned her a devoted following across the global Chinese diaspora, and she is widely revered as a ‘Grand Master of Cantonese Opera’ and a ‘Cultural Treasure of Lingnan’.

This year marks the centenary of her birth, and Guangzhou recently hosted a series of commemorative events, drawing nearly 300 renowned opera artists from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to attend. The memorial gala, which had been in preparation and rehearsal for more than a year, brought together more than twenty recipients of China's top theatre awards, alongside inheritors of Cantonese opera's intangible cultural heritage, disciples of the Hong School, and rising young talents. Together, they revived several of Hong Xiannü's classic works in a heartfelt tribute. 

As attendees reflected, ‘Wherever there are Chinese people, you will find the Hong Style’. The gathering served as a powerful pledge to uphold her legacy and ensure the enduring vitality of Cantonese opera.