Yangzhou opera ( Chinese: 扬剧; pinyin: Yángjù; lit. 'Yang opera') is a form of Chinese opera from Yangzhou in Jiangsu province. Its popularity has spread to Zhenjiang and Nanjing in Jiangsu, as well as Shanghai and parts of Anhui province. [1] It made the first national intangible cultural heritage list in 2006. [2]
Its origins dates to the Kangxi Emperor's reign. In the beginning, it had only two character types, a clown ( Chou role) and a woman ( Dan role). It has more character types now, but still only two singing styles, male and female. [3]