The virtual lights flickered to life, and the energy in the livestreaming studio was palpable. On the screen, the familiar logos of renowned national art troupes gleamed, signaling the start of yet another performance. But this wasn't unfolding in a grand theater — it was happening live, right in the palm of the audience's hand, thanks to the power of online streaming platforms.

This wasn't just a trend — it was a cultural transition. According to the China Association of Performing Arts, 499 national and regional art troupes, with over 6,000 performers, have already joined China's short-video app Douyin, bringing their performances to a brand-new audience.

Since the launch of the "Yibo Plan" in 2023, an initiative between the China Association of Performing Arts and Douyin, more than 81.9 million livestreaming performances have been broadcast — an average of 830 every single day. The digital stage has quickly become an essential venue, enabling these troupes to reach viewers from bustling cities to remote villages, touching lives they may have never reached before.

"Online performances haven't split our audience; they've amplified it," says Pan Yan, vice-president of the China Association of Performing Arts. "These livestreams have become a crucial 'frontline' and 'audience reservoir', helping art troupes attract new viewers who often go on to attend live performances."

"The livestreaming platform has become an indispensable venue for us," says Wu Zhao, vice-president of the China National Opera House. "It not only gives us a chance to showcase our art but also reshapes how we connect with our audience. Every show we broadcast reaches thousands, even tens of thousands. It's a completely new world for us."

Opera, a stunning art form that blends music, drama, poetry, dance, and visual arts, often faces challenges such as a high barrier to entry, limited offline reach, and long audience cultivation cycles. Yet, by the end of 2024, the opera house had joined Douyin and artists were performing popular songs like Longing, Those Flowers, and The Moon Represents My Heart in bel canto style. Through these performances, they attracted an entirely new audience — many of whom had never experienced opera before.

By 2025, the opera house had broadcast over 2,600 live sessions, with total viewership surpassing 30 million. In addition to encouraging artists to go live, the opera house arranged broadcasts with leading artists for pre-show introductions and behind-the-scenes tours of major performances. By December 2025, its official account had hosted 68 live broadcasts, with the highest single-session viewership reaching 30,000 concurrent viewers. Some viewers commented in the livestream's chat: "So opera is understandable after all — it's moving."

When it comes to traditional Chinese music, many still picture elderly performers serenely playing the pipa (a four-stringed Chinese lute) or the guqin (a traditional Chinese zither) in tranquil concert halls. But today's musicians are presenting their work in new and exciting ways that engage audiences like never before.

Since 2022, the China National Traditional Orchestra has been streaming shows online, with musicians delivering creative performances in unconventional settings — far removed from traditional concert halls.

"Traditional Chinese music can be both pioneering and creative, even though our instruments date back hundreds or even thousands of years," says Tang Feng, president of the China National Traditional Orchestra and a veteran erhu (a two-stringed fiddle) player. "We always want to introduce these amazing instruments and our music to audiences, especially the younger generation."

The success of these performances wasn't just in the numbers — it was in the experience. Viewers from all over the country now had the chance to experience the magic of live art in a way that felt far more intimate and personal than ever before. The online shows allowed performers to engage directly with their audiences, with real-time feedback and interactive features that transformed the digital space into a vibrant, dynamic community.

Beyond performances, the China National Traditional Orchestra also launched a public welfare livestream program called "Music Classes in the Mountains" in 2022. It has since established 22 charity classrooms in Guizhou province. Every Tuesday morning, artists go live, bringing the joy of music to some of China's most remote areas.

"Through these diverse and vibrant cultural livestreams, people living in these remote areas can enjoy music without ever leaving their homes," Tang explains. "This initiative makes the pursuit of art a tangible reality for them, infusing their daily lives with artistic flavor and cultural sophistication."

As Douyin's vice-president Li Sanqiu puts it, "We're proud to be part of this cultural revolution, helping art troupes and artists reach audiences far beyond the limitations of physical space. It's a bridge across mountains and seas, bringing the beauty of our cultural heritage into the digital age."