SHANGHAI, May 6 -- The first 3D Chinese film featuring Peking opera, "Farewell My Concubine: The Beijing Opera," debuted in Shanghai on Tuesday.

The film, starring famous Beijing opera artist Shang Changrong and actress Shi Yihong, was shot as an opera, combining Chinese culture with 3D technology.

Teng Junjie, the film's director, said the 3D film explores a new approach for spreading Chinese opera to a wider audience.

The film will be screened in nine cinemas starting on Wednesday in Shanghai. A 2D version will also appear in cinemas.

"Farewell My Concubine" is a love story based on the legend of ancient hero Xiang Yu and his beloved concubine Yu. In the story, Xiang loses a battle for the throne, and Yu commits suicide with his sword.

The film made its international debut in Hollywood at the Dolby Theater on May 30, 2014 and won an award for "Live Broadcast Music Entertainment" by the International 3D and Advanced Imaging Society in January of this year.