Mainland Students Pursue Performing Arts Dreams at Hong Kong Academy
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The "Study in Hong Kong" initiative continues to attract mainland Chinese students seeking diverse educational experiences, with two dedicated performers now halfway through their studies at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Zheng Jianpeng, a dancer originally from Foshan, chose Hong Kong after discovering its multicultural artistic landscape, while Mei Ruiying from Guangzhou made a decisive move to study Cantonese opera at the only institution in the region offering a bachelor's degree in the art form.
Key Points
- Zheng Jianpeng, who grew up in Foshan, started dancing at a young age and attended the Guangdong Dance and Drama Vocational School before joining HKAPA's Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance programme two years ago .
- Mei Ruiying fell in love with Cantonese opera at age four after witnessing an elderly street performer playing erhu and singing "Double Flying Swallow," later securing a full scholarship to HKAPA's Bachelor of Fine Arts in Chinese Opera programme .
- Housing presented the biggest initial hurdle for Zheng, who commuted daily between Foshan and Hong Kong before finding a shared apartment in North Point for approximately HK$10,000 per month .
- Both students have two years remaining before graduation and have not yet decided whether to pursue careers in Hong Kong or return to the mainland .
- Mei plans to pursue graduate studies in Chinese literature after graduation, believing it will deepen her understanding of the cultural foundations underlying Cantonese opera .
Why It Matters
The presence of talented mainland performers at Hong Kong's premier arts institution reflects the growing cultural exchange between the two regions, with Hong Kong positioning itself as a gateway where artists can access diverse influences while preserving traditional Chinese performing arts like Cantonese opera .
The presence of talented mainland performers at Hong Kong's premier arts institution reflects the growing cultural exchange between the two regions, with Hong Kong positioning itself as a gateway where artists can access diverse influences while preserving traditional Chinese performing arts like Cantonese opera .