Ningbo has a strong tradition of Yue opera (Yue ju), the regional opera form that originated in Zhejiang and became the second most popular form of Chinese opera after Beijing opera in the twentieth century. Yue opera is softer and more lyrical than Beijing opera, with all-female casts in its classical form and stories drawn from the romantic and historical literature of the Jiangnan tradition. Ningbo opera troupes perform regularly at the city's main performance venues and at temple festivals.
The Grand Theatre near Tianyi Square stages regular Yue opera performances alongside contemporary drama, and tickets are affordable. For a less formal experience, the temple festival performances at the City God Temple and various Buddhist festival days at the suburban temples involve outdoor stage performances of Yue opera that run for hours and are freely attended by anyone who wanders in. These outdoor performances — with an audience of primarily elderly devotees ignoring the plot in favour of conversation — give a more authentic sense of the art form's social function than a theatre production.