When you dip your toe in Guangzhou, Cantonese Opera would be one of the best activities for you to understand the stunning Cantonese culture.
Cantonese Operatic Songs is the purely singing version of Cantonese Opera, without costume or acting. Its history can be traced back to the middle 19th century, when “Shiniang”(blind female singers) sang and played the accompaniment themselves in restaurants, streets or by private invitation. They sang in “Operatic Mandarin,” and several became famous. In the early 20th Century, “Nuling” (女伶, sighted female singers) dominated the stage instead of the blind singers. They reformed the performance by adding a band and singing in Cantonese. Soon male singers joined the performances, and such entertainment became a regular feature in restaurants across Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau.
Tips: You will be more than a little fascinated by the local operas / shows if you come to get some general knowledge or background of the story before during your tour in China.
Source from Lifeofguangzhou.com