On November 4, the closing ceremony of the 14th China Art Festival was held at the Chongqing Grand Theatre, where the winners of the 18th Wenhua Award were announced. Sichuan Opera's "A Dream Reunion with Dongpo" by the Sichuan Opera Troupe and the original song "Jade Plate" from Chengdu won the Wenhua Award for Best Drama and Best Program, respectively.

In the competition for this edition of the Wenhua Award, Sichuan achieved a record high in both the number of nominated and awarded theatrical works. Sichuan had six works shortlisted for the final selection of this year's Wenhua Award: the Sichuan Opera "A Dream Reunion with Dongpo", the dance drama "Chen Shou: Records of the Three Kingdoms", the spoken drama "Who's Knocking at the Door", the song "Jade Plate", the group dance "Tenderness Like Water", and the magic show "Encounter".

Additionally, the dance poem "Shudao" (Road to Sichuan) was featured as the opening production. Sichuan's symphony work "The Light of Mind" was selected as a participating production. The province's 62 works were included in the National Exhibition of Outstanding Fine Arts, Calligraphy, Seal Engraving, and Photography, representing a 72 percent increase from the previous edition.

That evening, the "Deep Earth Affection" National Outstanding Amateur Art Performance and the 20th Qunxing Award ceremony, jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Chongqing Municipal People's Government, and the People's Government of Sichuan Province, were held at the Chongqing Qunxing Theater, where the winners across various categories of the Qunxing Award were announced. Among them, Sichuan secured four awards at the 20th Qunxing Award, with both the number of winning and shortlisted works (teams) reaching a record high and placing the province in the top tier nationally.

For this edition of the Qunxing Award, Sichuan entered 12 shortlisted works (teams) in the competition. Ultimately, four received awards: Guangyuan's musical piece "Family Tree", Chengdu's dance work "Stomping the Wine Tune for a Ballad of Happiness", Liangshan's dance piece "Mother Is That Mountain", and the Chengdu Children's Choir.

The judging processes for the Wenhua Award and the Qunxing Award are important components of the China Art Festival. The Wenhua Award represents the highest governmental honor in China's professional stage arts sector. The Qunxing Award is a national cultural and artistic government award established for the general public art enthusiasts and amateur cultural workers.

Wenhua Award-Winning Productions

Sichuan Opera "A Dream Reunion with Dongpo"

Performed by the Sichuan Opera Troupe in collaboration with the Sichuan Vocational College of Art, the production premiered in 2023 and stands as a representative work of newly created Sichuan Opera in recent years. "A Dream Reunion with Dongpo" employs a narrative prose style, using flashbacks to pivotal moments of Su Dongpo (Su Shi), such as Su Shi building a bridge in Huizhou, attaining enlightenment in Huangzhou, constructing the Snow Hall, composing the majestic Ode to the Red Cliff, educating the people in Danzhou, and his love story with Wang Runzhi, to transport audiences across time and space, offering a glimpse into the wisdom of Su Dongpo's life.

Prior to the award evaluation, "A Dream Reunion with Dongpo" underwent a touring series where it was continuously refined and enhanced. In this year's Wenhua Award competition, "A Dream Reunion with Dongpo" was the first Sichuan production to take the stage, carrying the high expectations of opera enthusiasts.

During the performance, the essential Sichuan Opera techniques of "singing, reciting, acting, and acrobatics" are seamlessly integrated with the life story of Su Shi. The production features multiple performers from the post-00s generation, creating a unique synergy between traditional opera artistry and youthful vitality that stands as a distinctive highlight of the show.

The song "Jade Plate"

Produced and performed by Chengdu Hulu Culture Media Co., Ltd., this song gained popularity on the China Media Group 2025 Spring Festival Gala of the Year of the Snake. It was staged at the Nanchong Grand Theatre during this year's China Art Festival. This presentation of "Jade Plate" features not only the joint vocals of Yi and Han children from the Daliang Mountains but also incorporates adult dancers from the Liangshan Song and Dance Troupe. The theme conveyed is not merely about adults lifting children physically, but also symbolizes the guidance and support offered by predecessors to successors on the path of exploration.

Qunxing Award-Winning Works (Teams)

"Family Tree" – A performance song from Guangyuan

Centered on the main theme of "Red Roots, Eternal Legacy", the piece innovatively blends pop music with Northern Sichuan folk songs, vividly portraying the heroic image of Sichuan's young heroes who sacrificed themselves to protect their homeland during the Sichuan-Shaanxi Revolutionary Base period.

"Stomping the Wine Tune for a Ballad of Happiness" – A dance work from Chengdu

Drawing on the traditional Qu-making technique (treading on liquor fermentation starter) from Qionglai, Sichuan, the piece vividly recreates the labor scene of liquor preparation, showcasing the diligence, cooperation, and joyous picture of working people crafting a fulfilling life through brewing.

"Mother Is That Mountain" – A dance work from Liangshan

Focusing on the mothers of the Yi ethnic group in Liangshan who have labored diligently, lived simply, and kept faithful watch deep in the mountains for generations, the piece tenderly unfolds through graceful yet powerful dance the ordinary yet moving life journeys of Yi women.

Chengdu Children's Choir

The choir was honored with the Outstanding Amateur Choral Team award for its performances of "My Motherland and Me" and "Snow Lotus". Founded in 2018, the Chengdu Children's Choir has performed at numerous world-class events and competitions, earning accolades including the World Peace Choral Festival Gold Award and the China Music Little Golden Bell Outstanding Exhibition Choir title.