Province puts money where its operatic mouth is

Visitors are taken back 1,500 years to relive what was portrayed in the Emperor and Empress' Ceremony to the Buddha, a pair of grotto artworks that once graced the walls of a cave of the Longmen Grottoes.

They can see Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534) and Queen Wenzhao majestically lead a group of maidservants, as well as how the royal family burns incense and practices the ritual for their Buddhist faith.

The live performance is presented by staff at the historic site and has been acclaimed by critics who see it as a great way to put a national treasure on view.

"The show has displayed not just costumes, makeup and rituals but profound history that has stretched unbroken over 5,000 years," says Wang Xiaoge, a culture critic.

Wang says the performance is a model for modern and stylish presentation of heritage and allows the history to be better associated with real life.

Over the years Henan has been innovative in how it presents culture, allowing tradition to merge with modern living.