Fifty years after his graduation, renowned novelist Pai Hsien-yung returned to his alma mater, National Taiwan University, this semester and offered a course on the Kun opera, which attracted more than 2,300 registrations despite an upper limit of 400. And Pai said he felt touched to see the passion that young students showed for this traditional Chinese art form.

It has been half a century since renowned writer Pai Hsien-yung graduated from National Taiwan University, and he returned to his alma mater this semester to teach a course on the new aesthetics of Kun opera.

Although space is limited to 400 students, more than 2,400 students registered.

During the first class, students that were unable to get into the class crowded into the back of the classroom and out in the hall.

In light of overwhelming demand, NTU is now streaming the course online for the first time in university history.

Pai says that he is thrilled to discover that so many students are interested in art and culture, and that he will be inviting Kun opera scholars, musicians,

and the crew of new productions of "The Peony Pavilion" and "The Jade Hairpin" to share their expertise with students over the course of the next 17 weeks.