Yuxi Lantern is the main local opera in Yuxi. It was formed after the military and civilians from Jiangnan moved to Yuxi in the Ming Dynasty. Yuxi Lantern is famous throughout Yunnan for its new lanterns. A group of lantern artists completely transformed the old lanterns, bringing forth new ideas and creating a large number of new lantern repertoires, pushing the old lanterns from rural group dances to stage dramas, officially becoming a type of opera, and then popularizing it throughout the province, so that Yuxi Lantern became the representative of Yunnan Lantern. In the early 20th century, Yuxi's economy developed rapidly, and the citizens' singing of lanterns became more and more popular. Yuxi Lantern artists absorbed nutrients from other operas such as Yunnan Opera and transformed lanterns. Three major changes occurred in lanterns: first, a large number of new lantern scripts were created; second, lanterns entered the provincial capital Kunming, forming professional ticketed performances; third, a group of well-known lantern artists emerged. These three changes marked the full completion of the replacement of old lanterns by new lanterns. Yunnan Lantern Opera originated from folk lantern songs and dances, and was a local opera popular in Yunnan in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China. In the process of becoming popular, different singing and performance styles were formed due to the influence of local languages and folk songs. Yunnan Lantern Opera has three branches: Kunming Lantern Opera, Yuxi Lantern Opera and Yao'an Lantern Opera. Among them, Kunming Lantern Opera retains the most Ming and Qing dynasty songs and repertoires, and the accompaniment instrument is mainly huqin; Yao'an Lantern Opera has a strong folk song color, mainly accompanied by flute and bangzi; Yuxi Lantern Opera was the first to innovate, so it is called "New Lantern", and its repertoire and performance form are greatly influenced by Yunnan Opera. Yunnan Lantern Opera initially performed lantern operas with heavy singing and dancing elements. Later, influenced by Yunnan Opera and other dramas, Lantern Opera artists also absorbed related tunes to change, expand and renovate when improving the repertoires with more tortuous and complex plots, and created new tunes for Lantern Opera. The newly compiled lantern tune adopts the arrangement method of connecting tunes, has some characteristics of banqiang music, and is suitable for performing traditional dramas. In addition, the tunes of Yunnan Lantern Opera also include various folk songs, which occupy an important position in the entire drama. Lantern Opera pays great attention to dance. The basic feature of Yunnan Lantern Dance is "Wai". There is a saying among the people that "there is no lantern without Wai". "Wai Bu" is coordinated with hand movements, and the props in the hand and the "flowers in the hand" and "fan flowers" of the fan are its specific manifestations. The singing and dancing in the lantern opera are conducive to setting off the plot and enriching the character's personality. The most prosperous period of Yunnan Lantern Opera was from the 1950s to the 1960s. At this time, not only a group of famous lantern opera actors such as Shi Baofeng, Xiong Jiechen, and Yuan Liuan emerged, but also repertoires such as "Exploring the Dry Sister", "Naodu", "Liu Cheng Watching Vegetables", and "Three Visits to Relatives" that are well-known on the Yunnan opera stage appeared. Xiong Jiechen is one of the first senior artists to bring the "dustpan lantern" performed in the rural drying field to the stage. He is good at playing the role of a young man. He is famous for playing Liang Shanbo in "Shanbo Visits Friends" and Xu Xian in "The Legend of the White Snake". His performance has a strong local flavor of Yuxi, Yunnan. In recent years, Huadeng Opera in various places has faced the same dilemma as other traditional opera arts: fewer and fewer theater performances, a shortage of funds for theater troupes, difficulties in arranging and performing new plays, and a lack of successors for the younger generation of creators and performers. It is urgent to take measures to rescue and protect Huadeng Opera, a local specialty. (No pictures yet, welcome to provide.) (No pictures yet, welcome to provide.)