Mao Opera

As a national intangible cultural heritage item, the Mao Opera of Gaomi has been one of the popular local operas in Shandong over the past century. It enjoys long-standing reputation in the Jiaodong Peninsula, and is a branch of the Zhouguzi School, one of the four major schools of Shandong's operas. Featuring melodious but melancholic singing style, guileless and straightforward expression, easy-to-understand lyrics and distinctive vernacular temperament, the Mao Opera is highly popular among local people, and famed as "a flower of Jiaodong", or "housewife-captivating opera" in common name. During its dissemination, it has gradually developed an impressive singing method of octave ending notes, called Damao (abrupt high pitch). In 2006, it was included in the first batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection List.