National puppet and shadow play showcase kicks off in Sanmenxia

The Sanmenxia branch venue of the 10th National Puppet and Shadow Play Heritage and Skills Showcase for Young and Mid-Career Artists, alongside the 2nd Solo Skills Showcase, opened at the Staff Home Grand Theater in Sanmenxia, Henan province on Oct 23.

Co-hosted by the China Puppet and Shadow Puppet Art Society, the China Center of UNIMA (Union Internationale de la Marionnette), Shaanxi Performance Group Co Ltd, and the Sanmenxia Federation of Trade Unions, the event adopts a two-city format, with the opening in Xi'an and the closing in Sanmenxia.

Chen noted that the event coincides with the arrival of migratory swans at the Yellow River wetlands and a swan-themed photography exhibition, bringing traditional art and wildlife conservation together to highlight the harmony between humans and nature.

Wang Guangfeng, a member of the Party leadership group and vice-chairman of the Sanmenxia Federation of Trade Unions, said the showcase offers a platform for cultural exchange across the Yellow River basin. Sanmenxia will use the event to bring traditional arts closer to workers and local communities.

Sui Jun, deputy Party secretary and general manager of Shaanxi Performance Group, described puppet and shadow play as vibrant expressions of Yellow River culture and called for closer cooperation with Sanmenxia in cultural exchange, heritage preservation and culture-tourism integration.

Following the welcome ceremony, audiences enjoyed seven performances featuring historical legends, classic tales and revolutionary stories. Blending puppetry with poetry, calligraphy and dance, the productions showcased the diversity of styles and the enduring appeal of this millennia-old folk art.

From Oct 22 to 26, skill demonstrations, public performances, and shadow puppet shows at tourist attractions are taking place in Xi'an and Sanmenxia, bringing traditional Chinese puppetry to wider audiences through the two-city program.