The First Yangtze River xiaoxi (storytelling with songs and dances) and xiaopin (Chinese skit) exhibition opened on Oct 31 at the Zhangjiagang Cultural Center, with 19 xiaoxi and 16 xiaopin works staged, including five created in Zhangjiagang. Government officials and some artists attended the event.

The 35 performances were selected from some 100 works in 12 provinces along the Yangtze River, covering varieties of Shanghai opera, Huai opera (a local opera popular in Jiangsu, Anhui and Shanghai), Chu opera (popular in Hubei province), tea-picking opera (popular in southern Jiangxi province, northern Guangdong province and western Fujian province) and the flower drum song (originated in Hunan province).

The exhibition is a new highlight of this year's Zhangjiagang Yangtze River Culture & Art Festival and will be held every two years.