Hu'nan Huagu Opera is the general name for minor local opera genres in Hu'nan Province, such as Changsha Huaguxi, Hengyang Huaguxi and Shaoyang Huaguxi which adopted the names of the regions where they are prevalent. Each opera has its own distinctive style.
    Derived from Hu'nan folk songs, it has developed from a two-role drama (a female and a clown) to a three-role drama (a young female, a young male and a clown). There are more than 400 traditional plays and 300 tunes in its repertoire.
    According to their formal structure and musical style, these tunes can be divided into four types: Chuan Diao, Daluoqiang, Paizi and Xiaodiao, all having a plain and straightforward local colour. Small Suona and percussions are the main accompanying instruments. The tunes are brisk and lively, particularly suitable to dancing-singing operas. The performance featuring the parts of female lead, young men and clown has distinctive artistic characteristics. There are more than 210 traditional plays for huagu opera, of which Liuhai Cuts Firewood and Kite flying won prizes at the national level. In terms of modern operatic creation, plays of influence created during the 1950s include Sister and Sisters-in-Law and Father Luosi Buying an Ox During the 1980s, more than 100 plays won prizes.
    Famous plays include Liuhai Kan Qiao (Liuhai Cuts Firewoods), Da tie (Stinthy) and Xi Caixin(Washing leaves). Famous performers are Liao Chunshan, Wang Yousheng and Zhang Shusheng.

    Flower-Lantern Opera is popular in West Hu'nan and is the common name of local operas such as the folk flower-lantern, waving lantern, jumping lantern, and flower-lantern dance.

    Dragon Dance is commonly referred to as “The Dragon-Lantern Showing”. It is often played in the Spring Festival, Lantern Festival and other important festivals. The “Dragon” used in Yiyang is often made up by the bamboo and decorated with colorful cloth and paper. The number of sections of the “dragon” varies from 9 to 15, and each section is installed a wooden handler. When waving the “Dragon”, each player holds one handler. At the front of the group, the person with pompon leads paves the way for whole group and, from time to time, he plays the dragon sporting. Dragon Dance is divided into “roll dragon” and “flood dragon” dance. Once playing, the atmosphere is so warm and festival with gong and drum playing together and firecrackers exploding. In addition, there is another two kinds of dragons, one, called “Shaking Dragon”, has long body and many sections in which the lanterns are lighted, the players just wave instead of dance the dragon; the other one, called the “Grass Dragon” is made by straw, most of the players are juvenile and children. Since 1980s, with the overall removal of ban in culture activities, all kinds of “Dragon-Lantern Showing” and “Dragon-Waving Dance” in Yiyang has been frequently held, especially in importance festivals. However, most of methods are handed down from the past, with very little innovation.

    The cry-of-marriage song is sung by the girls in Tujia nationality while crying before getting married. Before the eve of getting married, they needs to cry 3-5 consecutive evenings, and the contents of cry-of-marriage is very colorful, some about parting from sisters, some about respecting and loving parents, and others concerning attaching to the hometown.