Endangered shadow play art lives on in rural China

A folk artist practices shadow play in a farmyard in Jingning county, Pingliang city, Gansu province. [Photo/VCG]

Daytime shadow play is a kind of shadow play performed in the sunlight, and is different from the lamp shadow play performed at night.

When they perform, puppeteers stand behind a white curtain, chant folk tales while manipulating opera characters, accompanied by live music. The traditional art form, though endangered now, is still quite popular among villagers in Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu provinces.

The puppets and landscape in the shadow play are always carved by hand using animal skin. As an ancient art, it brought people much fun and enjoyment in the past when televisions and films were still not available.