Founded in 1986, the Shaoxing Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe emerged as a new kind of performing arts organisation during an era of reform and transformation. Guided by the principle of “developing talent, creating outstanding productions, and delivering results,” the troupe has spent four decades preserving and developing the art of Yue Opera, becoming a golden cultural card of Shaoxing.

Over the past 40 years, the Shaoxing Xiaobaihua has benefited from the guidance and support of renowned Yue Opera masters including FAN Ruijuan, FU Quanxiang, and LÜ Ruiying. It has nurtured a large number of accomplished performers distinguished by their versatility in both civil and martial roles as well as their artistic excellence and professional integrity. WU Fenghua, WU Suying, CHEN Fei, and ZHANG Lin have all received the China Theatre Plum Blossom Award. WU Fenghua has also received the Second Plum Blossom Award and the Wenhua Performance Award. WU Fenghua, WU Suying, CHEN Fei, and ZHANG Lin all enjoy Special Government Allowances from the State Council. A new generation of performers—including CHEN Wenting, QIU Zaiping, LOU Zhouying, XIE Xiao, LOU Huiqin, and HE Menglai—has continued to flourish, while emerging young artists such as SUN Qinfei, HAN Mengsha, CHEN Meng’er, QIAN Shiying, and HUANG Jianan are beginning to make their mark. Six generations of performers now carry on the troupe’s artistic legacy, with artists of different generations continuing to share the stage.

Over the past four decades, the troupe has created more than 40 full-length productions and over 50 excerpted pieces, developing a distinctive style that combines both civil and martial performance traditions. Productions including LU Wenlong, King Goujian of Yue, Three Chapters on the Yue Women, and The One-Cash Magistrate have received the Five-One Project Award of Zhejiang Province, Outstanding Production Awards at the Zhejiang Theatre Festival, Gold Awards at the China Yue Opera Art Festival, and Production Awards at the China Theatre Festival. The newly created Yue Opera LI Huiniang received the China Opera Society Award, the Gold Award at the 2^nd China Yue Opera Art Festival, and the Special Award at the 11^th Zhejiang Theatre Festival. It was also selected as an Outstanding Production for the first Zhejiang Culture and Arts Festival and received Second Prize at the 3^rd National Showcase of Outstanding Local Opera Productions. The newly created Yue Opera The Civet Cat for the Crown Prince was selected as an Outstanding Production for the 2nd Zhejiang Culture and Arts Festival, received the China Opera Society Award at the National Showcase of Outstanding Productions at the invitation of the Ministry of Culture, was selected for the 13^th Shanghai International Arts Festival, and was included among Zhejiang Province’s Outstanding Repertory Productions. The newly created Yue Opera QU Yuan was presented at the 3^rd China Yue Opera Art Festival and the 17^th Shanghai International Arts Festival, and was selected three times for support from the National Arts Fund. The television opera The One-Cash Magistrate won First Prize at the 9^th China Television Opera Orchid Awards. The Yue Opera film The Civet Cat for the Crown Prince received the Outstanding Opera Film Award at the 7^th Zhejiang Phoenix Film Awards. The Yue Opera film LI Huiniang was recognised as an Outstanding Opera Film at the 5^th China Opera Film Forum and Showcase, nominated for Best Opera Film at the 33^rd Golden Rooster Awards, and received the Outstanding Opera Film Award at the 3^rd China Opera Film Exhibition. The newly created Yue Opera Clear Spring Under the Bright Moon was selected for the 6^th China Yue Opera Art Festival and the 25^th Shanghai International Arts Festival, and received support from the National Arts Fund.

For four decades, the Shaoxing Xiaobaihua has remained active across Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Shanghai, bringing its vibrant energy, cohesive ensemble, distinctive combination of civil and martial performance, disciplined and down-to-earth artistic ethos, and high-quality productions to both cities and rural communities. The troupe has been invited to perform in Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Shandong, Tianjin, Xi’an, Chongqing, Sichuan, Hunan, Hubei, Fujian, and other parts of China. It has also undertaken cultural exchanges in Austria, Italy, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Its public cultural programmes—including “Renowned Artists and Productions for Grassroots Communities,” “Great Theatre in the Ancient Towns of Keqiao,” and “Theatre on Campus”—have flourished, while its distinctive cultural-tourism initiative “Travel Golden Keqiao with Xiaobaihua” has become a recognisable cultural brand. The troupe enjoys a strong reputation both in China and internationally.

The troupe has consistently been rated a First-Class Provincial Theatre Company in professional evaluations of performing arts organisations. In 1992, it received a commendation from the Publicity Department of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee. In 2014, it was recognised by the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture. In 1995, it was named a National Advanced Cultural Collective and commended by the former Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Personnel. In 2008, it was awarded the title of National March 8th Red-Banner Collective. In 2013, it was named an Advanced National Collective for Cultural Development Serving Farmers and Grassroots Communities. In 2015, it received the National May Day Women’s Medal and the title of National Worker Pioneer.