People enjoy Kunqu Opera during a Shanghai city promotion event in London, Britain, on April 24, 2026.(Xinhua/Li Ying) Recognized by UNESCO in 2001 as one of the first Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, Kunqu is celebrated for its refined vocal style, graceful choreography, poetic language and minimalist stagecraft. by Yang Shilong, Ada Zhang UNITED NATIONS, Aug.