A top opera actress revealed at the annual session of China's top political advisory body that the Peking Opera needs modern interpretations and innovation to boost the art.

Shi Min, the leading actress at the Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company and a member of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). [Photo / China.org.cn]??

Shi Min, the leading actress at the Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company and a member of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said she participated in shooting one of China's first batch of Peking Opera films, "Farewell My Concubine," as early as 2013. The classic story was made into the first Peking Opera film with advanced 3D technology and Dolby Atmos and went on to win several domestic and international awards in both 2014 and 2015 after its overseas debut on May 30, 2014 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

"The film maintains the authenticity of the original Peking Opera performing arts and has a motion picture expression and narrative, and perfectly combines traditional opera and 3D technology, and won many applauds from audiences both home and abroad," said Shi. "This is an innovative development of a traditional Chinese treasure."

The actress is in Beijing attending the annual session of the 12th CPPCC National Committee, which runs until March 14. In her proposal to the CPPCC, Shi suggested more innovative adaptations for Peking Opera in the digital media era, such as making Peking Opera cartoons and attracting more Peking Opera theater photographers.

However, she also remains worried about these kinds of innovation and film promotion. "In some major cities, 'Farewell My Concubine' was well received and even young people brought along their parents to movie theaters to see it. But in other cities, most showings were arranged in remote theaters or at very late times of the day. I hope the Ministry of Culture and the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television can give opera films a bigger boost and build art film theater chains. Then, such films can be seen more by a wider audience, especially by younger people who are the inheritors of the tradition."

Shi Min also proposed the establishment of Peking Opera and Kunqu Opera courses in Chinese universities to foster an interest in the hearts of China's younger generation.