As the 2026 two sessions convene in Beijing, Du Yuzhen, a deputy to the National People's Congress and veteran actress of Jining Shandong Bangzi Opera, has taken traditional art to the national stage.

For decades, Du has devoted her life to this art. She sees alignment between her lifelong commitment to mastering performance skills and her duties as a deputy. To truly understand what people want for their cultural heritage, she believes one must stay close to them at the community level.

Her continued advocacy for preserving local operas and engaging younger audiences has yielded tangible results. She once called for promoting opera in schools and strengthening professional training, and these initiatives are now implemented nationwide.

"The most urgent task is to prevent a talent gap," Du said. "The living transmission of our culture depends on cultivating the next generation."

At this year's two sessions, she asks for improved national support policies and training systems in higher education to empower young practitioners. Looking ahead, Du hopes that traditional arts will flourish in the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–30), bringing renewed vitality to China's cultural legacy.

Du Yuzhen (middle) in a performance on stage. [Photo/Jining News Web]