Rebirth of an ancient art By Wang Kaihao | China Daily | Updated: 2021-05-31 08:04 Share Performers present a well-known Kunqu Opera, Zhong Kui Marries off His Sister, at Changyinge in Beijing’s Palace Museum. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily] When Kunqu Opera was listed as one of the Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in May 2001-the first entry from China on that list, many Chinese people probably wondered why it had such a privilege. Though the stage art is generally considered one of the oldest Chinese opera genres dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), it greatly contributed to the formation of the much better-known Peking Opera.