Officials attend the opening ceremony of the Ningbo Opera Museum in Shaojia village in Yinzhou district, Ningbo, in Zhejiang province, on June 18. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

A museum dedicated to Ningbo opera opened in Shaojia village in Yinzhou district, Ningbo, in Zhejiang province, on June 18. 

As a folk opera art form, Ningbo opera has been officially recognized as part of China's national intangible cultural heritage, boasting a history of more than 200 years. Officials say it is one of the cultural treasures of the city.

The museum will serve not only as an important base for the display, inheritance, training and research of the folk opera, but also as a window for tourists to learn more about the local culture of the city.

Visitors read about the history of Ningbo opera at the museum on June 18. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

There are three exhibition rooms displaying original scripts and music scores for Ningbo opera, some of the daily necessities of troupe actors and actresses in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as costumes, instruments and videos.

It has been a long-held wish for generations of Ningbo opera performers to see such a museum built, said Wang Jinwen, director of the Ningbo opera research center.

"It will be a long-time project for us to collect the old Ningbo opera objects and materials. We hope local residents who have such things will contact us, and that the museum will get support from everyone so that the culture can be passed down from generation to generation," Wang added.

A concert was given after the opening ceremony of the museum, and six opera pieces were performed.

Local artists give a Ninbo opera performance at the museum on June 18. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]