Actors and actresses from Chongqing Opera House will perform the opera Diao Yu Cheng, or Fishing City, at Suzhou Culture and Arts Center in Suzhou of Jiangsu province at 2pm on November 12.

The opera is adapted from a true historical story. In the year 1234, the Southern Song Dynasty (AD 420-479) and Mongolia were working together to conquer the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234). Mongolia then tried to conquer the Southern Song Dynasty but faced problems for nearly half a century – mostly because of Diao Yu Cheng.

Diao Yu Cheng, founded in 1243 with an area of only 2.5 square kilometers, won several battles during 36 years of war with Mongolia. In 1258, Mongolian General Meng Ge died at the city and asked his soldiers to kill everyone in the city. In 1279, the Southern Song Dynasty surrendered and the Mongolians agreed not to kill anyone.

The small city not only kept the Southern Song Dynasty alive for 20 extra years, but also stopped Mongolian troops from entering Africa. The war at Diao Yu Cheng has become a classic military example ever since.

The playwright said that the heroes of that era had to make difficult life and death decisions. Even compared to modern times, it was a war full of cruelty.