Huagu Opera (Changsha Huagu Opera) is a traditional drama of Hunan Province and one of the national-level intangible cultural heritage items.
Formed during the Qing Dynasty, Changsha Huagu Opera became popular in central and eastern Hunan, as well as along the shores of Dongting Lake. By the mid-20th century, various regional styles of Huagu Opera had gradually merged due to frequent artistic exchanges, and the stage language was unified into Changsha Mandarin, forming a more complete genre of Changsha Huagu Opera. In 2009, it was included in the provincial intangible cultural heritage list by the Hunan Provincial People's Government. On May 23, 2011, Huagu Opera (Changsha Huagu Opera) was approved by the State Council of the People's Republic of China and included in the third batch of national intangible cultural heritage items.