SYDNEY, July 29 (Xinhua) -- During the month of July, audiences across Australia and New Zealand were treated to a series of performances, showcasing the beauty of traditional Chinese opera.

Featuring episodes from the renowned Chinese novel Journey to the West, Hong Kong's Azure Seas Cantonese Traditional Theatre introduced local audiences to performances of "Monkey King and Skeleton Devil."

With the tour organised by Australasian Art and Stageworks and sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Sydney, the shows began in Auckland on July 23 before heading to Sydney and Melbourne on July 26, 28.

Addressing the crowd in Sydney, Deputy Director of the HKETO Winnie Chan spoke about the recent unveiling of the Xiqu Centre and highlighted the importance of preserving the unique and beautiful cultural tradition.

"Opened in January this year, the Xiqu Centre, a striking world-class performing arts venue in the West Kowloon Cultural District, is dedicated to the conservation, promotion and development of Chinese opera," she said.

"Hong Kong is an arts and cultural metropolis. We hope that through this performance tour, audiences in Australia and New Zealand will have a better understanding of Hong Kong SAR's cultural heritage as well as its vibrant arts and cultural scenes," Chan added.