Peacock Stage

This photo taken on Sunday, August 2nd, 2009 shows the Peacock Stage in Xiaoshi Town of Anqing city, in east China's Anhui Province. [CRI]

The Peacock Stage, first built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), was originally a mound and was turned into a grand stage for opera performances during the Qing Dynasty (1616-1911), but it was unfortunately destroyed during China's Cultural Revolution in the 1960's.

In 2004, Xiaoshi Town restored the stage which cost about 680 million yuan (US$99.5 million). All the money was raised by Xiaoshi Town locals.

"The villagers donated the money of their own free will," 65-year-old Liu Chengwang, one of the descendants of Liu Lanzhi, said.

Now the Peacock Stage has become a free cultural centre of Xiaoligang Village. Every year, villagers nearby can enjoy opera performances here during the Spring Festival to the Tomb-sweeping Day.

Also the nearby Peacock Tomb for the couple has been refurbished. In 1984 the over-1,700-year-old historic site had a tombstone added to it. Nearby is the half-moon-shaped lake where Liu Lanzhi was said to have drowned herself.

Liu Chengwang says these moves aim to create a cultural identity, in memory of the story and its characters, as well as boost local tourism.