Sanhe Wanniantai

Sanhe Wanniantai

Wanniantai is the center of Sanhe Town. It is an ancient theater stage, rebuilt on the former site. This cultural square, covering about 2,000 square meters, can accommodate several thousand people for performances at once. Today, this cultural and leisure plaza features twelve zodiac animal drums and fourteen more stone drums representing the “Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum,” along with three carvings of ancient Sanhe wedding procession scenes. Originally, there were two Wanniantai stages in Sanhe; besides this one, there was another on South Street. Its old structure now houses the “Wannian Chan Temple.” You can see two large pillars on both sides of the stage, symbolizing the everlasting spirit of Buddhism. At Wanniantai, local operas — particularly Lu Opera — are performed on holidays and weekends, attracting numerous visitors and creating a lively atmosphere.

When talking about Sanhe, one cannot overlook Lu Opera. Tour guides in Sanhe can sing a few lines of Lu Opera off the cuff, audio shops on the old street blast Lu Opera, and every performance at Wanniantai features it. The ancient town of Sanhe has long been honored as the “Hometown of Lu Opera” by the Anhui Provincial Drama Association. Although the origins of Lu Opera are still debated, it’s an undisputed fact that Sanhe shares an inseparable bond with the art form. Lu Opera’s classic play, "Xiao Cidian" (A Brief Farewell at the Shop), is set in Sanhe. The townspeople seem inseparable from its melodies. The story of "Xiao Cidian" originates from Erlong Street in Sanhe Town. This tale transitions audiences from the bloody battles of Sanhe’s past as a wartime battleground to tender love stories, adding endless charm to this millennia-old town.

"Xiao Cidian" tells the following story: In the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican period, Hu Cuilian, who lived at the head of Erlong Street in Sanhe Town, ran an inn. A young man from Hubei, Cai Mingfeng, came to Sanhe to do business and stayed at Hu’s inn. Disillusioned with her husband, who indulged in drinking, gambling, and womanizing, Hu gradually grew cold toward him and developed feelings for Cai Mingfeng over time. Their mutual affection led them to secretly become “ephemeral partners.” Three years later, Cai Mingfeng became homesick and begged Hu Cuilian to let him return to his hometown. They bid a reluctant farewell, promising to meet again the following March. Tragically, they never saw each other again. It turned out that Cai Mingfeng had a wife back home, and he was killed by his spouse and her lover the very night he returned. Hu Cuilian and Cai Mingfeng's parting became a permanent goodbye.

In the past, in Sanhe, everyone knew about "Xiao Cidian" and the story of Cai Mingfeng and Hu Cuilian. Hu Yiding, an elderly man dedicated to preserving Sanhe’s folk culture, stated that "Xiao Cidian" had been performed on the streets of Sanhe for at least 100 years, but no one has yet confirmed its original author. “Perhaps it was someone harboring a grudge against the Hu family, aiming to mock a Hu woman for breaking marital norms but too afraid to reveal their identity due to the Hu family’s power, unintentionally leaving behind a valuable ‘legacy’ for posterity.” "Xiao Cidian" was once even banned in Sanhe. Hu recalled that her mother had heard the opera in Sanhe during the 1930s, but it couldn’t be openly performed due to fear of the Hu family’s influence. Nevertheless, "Xiao Cidian" spread far beyond Sanhe and was adapted into various opera genres, including Huangmei Opera, becoming a vibrant gem on the theatrical stage.

Today, on the southeast side of Sanhe Town’s ancient city wall, you can still see Erlong Street, though it is not the original one. The real Erlong Street was located east of Sanhe, about one or two kilometers from the main street. “In 1979, when the Hangbu River was straightened and its bends cut off, the original Erlong Street was forever submerged underwater.” As for the origin of Erlong Street’s name, there is also a legend. It is said that in 929 AD, Zhao Gao (from Zhuozhou, Hebei), then the Commander of the Imperial Guard during the Later Zhou Dynasty, was falsely accused of treason by corrupt officials. Enraged, the emperor ordered the extermination of Zhao’s entire clan. Upon learning of the impending massacre, Zhao Gao fled overnight with his wife and his two young sons, Zhao Kuangyin and Zhao Guangyi. They were pursued by soldiers. After months on the run, Zhao Gao’s wife fell ill and died. He then had to travel by day in hiding and by night, fleeing southward with his two sons. Legend says that Zhao Gao and his sons eventually settled in what is now Tongda Town in Lujiang County and Sanhe Town in Feixi County. After Zhao Kuangyin ascended the throne, he built a “Two Dragons” memorial archway in Erlong Street. The place where they sought refuge became known as “Erlong Street.” Erlong Street flourished greatly, and by the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican period, it was lined with inns, restaurants, and pharmacies, all thriving businesses.

Wanniantai hosts Lu Opera performances every weekend. Regular performers include Li Lichun, Yao Shaohua, and others, who are regarded as stars by opera fans, drawing many tourists and locals alike. Time changes everything. Much of the past splendor has faded into the footlights of history, and many great figures have become fleeting shadows, but the stage remains. Perhaps this is why the people of Sanhe call the theater stage the “Wanniantai” — the Eternal Stage.

Sanhe Town: Located in central Anhui, Sanhe Town lies in the southwestern part of Hefei, the provincial capital of Anhui. It is under the jurisdiction of Hefei and borders the cities of Chaohu and Lu’an. To the east, it faces Chaohu Lake, while the Fengle River, Hangbu River, and Xiaonan River flow through the area. It sits on the golden tourism route between the national 5A-level scenic spots of Huangshan and Jiuhua Mountain. The Hefei–Tongling Highway runs through the town, and the Beijing–Kowloon Railway and Hefei–Tongling–Huangshan Expressway pass nearby, offering convenient transportation and a superior location. The town covers an area of 70 square kilometers, governs 19 villages and 7 neighborhood committees, and has a population of 72,000. The Sanhe Ancient Town scenic area spans 4.71 square kilometers and has a population of over 30,000. … Sanhe Town detailed information++