Intangible Cultural Heritage Lantern Opera Heritage Tour Route

Route: Dengxi Theater — Enshi Dengxi Heritage Museum — Huilongchi — Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate — Dengxi Square — Wenxi Pavilion

　 　Lamp Opera Stage: Lamp-lit opera stages echo with singing, and the Tujia intangible cultural heritage is joyfully passed down. Eaves curve gracefully, corners soar high, balustrades are exquisitely carved and painted—such ancient folkways brim with auspicious energy.
　　Lamp Opera originated in Sichuan and was introduced to Longganhu in Enshi during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. There, it merged with local culture, giving rise to “Enshi Lamp Opera.” Longganhu is the birthplace of Enshi Lamp Opera and boasts the earliest and most active Lamp Opera troupes. Folk art master Meng Yongxiang made tremendous contributions to the preservation and promotion of Enshi Lamp Opera, helping it gain nationwide fame. As a result, this region has been designated as the “Hubei Province Folk Culture and Art Hometown.” Enshi Lamp Opera serves as a popular form of folk entertainment, offering flexible and accessible performances that have won widespread acclaim throughout rural areas, communities, and schools. The Lamp Opera Theater is one of the four original performance venues and also the largest stage, providing a space for performances and cultural exchanges. Master Meng Yongxiang teaches here, theater troupes rehearse, and villagers engage in singing and dancing. Meanwhile, the Lamp Opera Theater has become the designated venue for the Longganhu-style Daughters’ Festival and serves as an important site for intangible cultural heritage education and tourism in Enshi.

　　 Enshi Lantern Opera Inheritance Museum: The Enshi Lantern Opera Inheritance Museum is a crucial venue for the protection and preservation of the intangible cultural heritage known as “Enshi Lantern Opera.” It serves as a guardian of lantern opera culture and provides educational resources for research and learning. The museum showcases a diverse array of artifacts, audiovisual materials, texts, images, and historical documents related to Enshi Lantern Opera, aiming to disseminate knowledge about this cultural tradition, encourage public awareness and appreciation for its preservation, and ensure its long-term conservation while inspiring and educating visitors. Since the completion of the Inheritance Museum, it has hosted cultural lectures, seminars, performances, and other events, facilitating exchanges and dialogues with artists, scholars, and experts from both home and abroad. As a result, villagers in the birthplace of Enshi Lantern Opera have strengthened their cultural identity and sense of pride.

　　 Huilong Pool: Mountain streams converge here, creating a small pond with breathtaking scenery. Surrounded by picturesque mountains, quaint houses, and tea plantations, this place showcases the charm of Enshi Dengxi—the birthplace of the local opera. The scenic area includes attractions such as Huilong Pool, the “Carp Leaping Through the Dragon Gate,” and Yangjia Courtyard, and is home to rare and precious ornamental trees. The waters of Huilong Pool lie where Longgan Creek winds its way through mountains and ridges; the stream’s waters resemble a little dragon pausing briefly before continuing on toward Longgan Lake. In the sunlight, the reflection of the Tujia Wind-and-Rain Bridge shimmering on the emerald waves looks just like a playful dragon frolicking in the water.

　　 The carp leaps over the dragon gate: “Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate” is part of the Huilongchi Scenic Area and represents the outlet of underground water from Longgan Creek. Legend has it that when a carp leaps over the Dragon Gate, it transforms into a dragon and ascends to heaven. For students, this symbolizes the hope of passing the imperial examinations and becoming the top scholar. Thus, this legend holds a sacred place in the hearts of the Chinese people. During the development of the scenic area, local villagers’ suggestions were incorporated, and the theme “Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate” was adopted. A stone-carved landscape featuring high-relief sculptures was created, depicting koi fish playfully swimming in the pond—a metaphor for the spirited and hardworking spirit of the young people from Longgan Lake and Mountain Township.

　　 Lamp Opera Square: As the lantern opera begins, the villagers rejoice. The square comes alive with song and dance, immersing visitors in the enchanting world of intangible cultural heritage. The Lantern Opera Square is one of the birthplaces of Enshi Lantern Opera, serving as the second-largest public performance venue and a village-level cultural plaza. Here, villagers perform lantern operas, relax, and gather, fostering harmonious neighborhood relations and fully leveraging the cultural and recreational functions of the space. The architectural style blends seamlessly with the surrounding landscape—nestled against mountains and beside waters, it runs alongside the ancient Shiyi Trail, offering a picturesque rural setting. The Lantern Opera Square is located near Yangjiayuan, the residence of Meng Yongxiang, an inheritor of the lantern opera’s intangible cultural heritage. Following the ancient Shiyi Trail and passing through Julongshan Field, one can reach the site of the old Yang Family House, the original location of the lantern opera. The grand stage of the Lantern Opera Building, Yangjiayuan, the Lantern Opera Square, and the old Yang Family House together constitute the four major performance venues that mark the birthplace of Enshi Lantern Opera. These venues have established Enshi Lantern Opera as a cultural landmark, creating a unique cultural and geographical IP that brings audiences closer to the art form and expands the space for the dissemination of this intangible cultural heritage.

　　 Ask the Theater Pavilion: The “Wenxi Pavilion” is located in the Enshi Tea Plantation and serves as a cultural symbol of Enshi Lantern Opera. Its origins are closely tied to Master Meng Yongxiang’s childhood experiences. Master Meng began learning the art at the age of seven and was once punished by being made to stand in the tea plantation. It was precisely during this time that she gained profound insight into the harmony between humans and nature, leading her to create vivid Si Ping tunes. Sixty-five years later, having achieved great fame and success, she reflected on how to preserve, explore, and leverage Enshi Lantern Opera in the context of rural revitalization. Thus, she returned to the tea plantation, creating a series of Lantern Opera works deeply rooted in rural life. To honor her own journey and commemorate the predecessors who dedicated their lives to this art form, she erected the Wenxi Pavilion in the tea plantation.

　 　Yang Family Old House Site: Yang Family Old Residence is one of the birthplaces of Dongxia Cao Long Ganhu Enshi Lantern Opera. It was first built in 1810 and features the Tujia architectural style known as “walking-horse corner tower.” Once upon a time, this old residence served as a venue for lantern opera performances; its internal structure remains remarkably well-preserved, and its outer courtyard never accumulates water. In the past, during festivals and holidays, villagers would gather here to enjoy lantern opera shows. Although it now enjoys a tranquil atmosphere, it still retains its historical charm. In 2021, Yang Family Old Residence was designated as a municipal-level cultural relic protection site.