Recently, the government of Ningbo, a city in Zhejiang province, announced a change in working hours for civil servants. The new work schedule will be from 9:00 to 12:00 in the morning and from 2:00 to 5:30 in the afternoon, giving them a six and a half hour working day.

That total is 30 minutes shorter than before the new rules. Officials say the move is aimed at easing rush hour traffic. The cut in working hours mimics other provinces such as Guangdong, Fujian, and Hebei.

A survey by information website, infzm.com carried out a poll asking people their opinion on the shorter work hours for these public servants. Seventy-six per cent of the respondents said shortening the working day shows the current workload of public servants is not enough, and so there should be staff reductions.

The distinguishing soft-sounding Yue Opera, also known as the Shaoxing Opera, is native to the Zhejiang area.  Capturing the interests of millions of viewers, the Yue Opera consists of all female performers with some playing male roles - a different appeal compared to the Beijing Opera.

The oldest form of opera in China, which is yelled rather than sung, and was one of the major influences on Beijing Opera.

Kun Opera, which dates back more than five hundred years earlier than Beijing Opera.

Yue Opera, a form of theater which is performed almost always only by women.

An opera form featured in shadow puppetry and the "model play" Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy, as well as information on venues where Qin Opera and Xianban Opera can be seen.

As the oldest township in Qingpu, Baihe is the home of the widely known, yet rare, Huju Opera.  Spoken in the Shanghainese dialect, find out why Chinese from other areas as well as foreigners are excited to watch the cultural stories told in Huju Opera.  This township also consists of historic temples, pagodas, bell towers, and other cultural attractions.

Huangmei Opera, which has made its way into Chinese popular culture, and therefore does not necessarily involve elaborate costumes.