BEIJING, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- "Mrs. Willow," a Guangdong Han Opera film about Liu Rushi, a legendary late Ming dynasty courtesan, has started screening nationwide following its Tuesday debut.

Starring two-time Meihua Award winner Li Xianhua, the film is known literally as "White Gate Willow" in Chinese and based on writer Liu Sifen's novel of the same name that won the Mao Dun Literature Prize. It brings alive a fast-changing era in late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty.

Guangdong Han Opera boasts a history of nearly 300 years and was inscribed on China's National Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2008.

Liu Rushi (1618-1664) was once a courtesan in Nanjing and later became a concubine of celebrated poet Qian Qianyi. She was conversant with literature and skilled in calligraphy and painting.

According to Li, "Mrs. Willow" is the first Guangdong Han Opera film to be shot and theatrically released in 50 years.