Behind the Curtain: 'Pirate Queen' story unmasked in Chinese musical

“The Pirate Queen” takes on the long-imagined story of Shi Xianggu, a fishing girl who became the legendary “Pirate Queen” in the early 19th century during China’s Qing Dynasty. The article says she defended her waters from foreign warships, burned opium ships in pursuit of justice, and later accepted amnesty from the Qing court for the well-being of her people. The piece highlights a behind-the-scenes look at the Chinese musical, led by CGTN’s Guo Meiping. Rather than focusing only on historical accounts, the segment frames the production as an effort to reveal an untold story through stage interpretation.