Qingdao's 2025 cultural landscape has quietly etched warm imprints across the city. From the beginning to the end of the year, the musical theater market thrived. From January 24 to 26, *Cats* performed five consecutive shows in Qingdao. Throughout the year, 19 musicals, including the English original *Cats*, the French original *Notre-Dame de Paris*, the Chinese original *The Orphan of Zhao*, and the neo-traditional *The Imperial Guards: Blade and Flower*, took the stage at the Qingdao Grand Theatre, with every show sold out. Qingdao has emerged as a "new hotspot" for musical theater in northern China.
Marking its 20th anniversary since reorganization, the Qingdao Symphony Orchestra celebrated with a "dual celebration" in 2025, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. On February 22, a Prokofiev-themed concert kicked off the season, followed by performances like *The Yellow River Cantata*, premieres of local works, and collaborations with international orchestras such as the Philadelphia Orchestra, solidifying its reputation as the "Island of Music."
In April, the play *Family Status*, adapted from a novel by Qingdao writer Lian Jian and co-produced by Qingdao Sports Development Group, Beijing Poly Theatre Management, and Qingdao Drama Theatre, embarked on a national tour, pioneering a new model of collaboration between state-owned cultural enterprises and local troupes.
On April 27, the 20th Huabiao Awards ceremony was held on Xingguang Island, marking the first time the prestigious film awards ceremony took place outside Beijing. The event, celebrating 120 years of Chinese cinema, gathered filmmakers from across the industry, further elevating Qingdao’s reputation as the "City of Film."
From June to July, the "Art in Motion China · 2025 Qingdao International Watercolor Art Season" showcased the city’s cultural identity as the "City of Watercolor." International artists painted new visions of China, while exhibitions and workshops strengthened global artistic exchanges.
In August, the Qingdao Peking Opera Theatre celebrated its 75th anniversary with a three-month festival featuring classic performances, master classes, and community outreach programs, promoting the art form’s preservation and accessibility.
September saw the Qingdao Museum’s 60th-anniversary exhibition, unveiling nine newly designated "Treasures of the Museum" alongside digital exhibitions and limited-edition cultural products.
The second Qingdao Liyuan Comedy Festival in September transformed historic courtyards into immersive performance spaces, blending traditional and modern comedy styles. Meanwhile, the Qingdao (Shinan) Courtyard Art Festival linked over 40 historic buildings with 300 artistic events, merging culture with urban life.
From September 19 to November 16, the Qingdao Grand Theatre Art Festival presented 40 performances, including the acclaimed dance *The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting*, a minimalist opera *La Traviata*, and a symphonic adaptation of *Black Myth: Wukong*.
Small-scale theater productions, focusing on rural revitalization and cultural heritage, also flourished, engaging communities with local operas like Liuju and Maoqiang.
In November, the large-scale drama *A World of Ordinary Joys*, set in Qingdao’s historic courtyards, won the prestigious Wenhua Award, reaffirming the city’s artistic excellence.
As winter arrived, theaters and cultural spaces remained vibrant. *A World of Ordinary Joys* returned to local stages, while intangible cultural heritage workshops and art exhibitions kept the city’s creative spirit alive.
From spring’s budding performances to winter’s reflective warmth, Qingdao’s 2025 cultural journey was a testament to its thriving artistic scene—where tradition and innovation intertwined against the backdrop of mountains and sea.
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