Two works submitted by Shandong province have qualified for the 17th Galaxy Award finals, which will be selected during the 11th China Art Festival held from Oct 15 to 31 in Shaanxi province.

Shandong Bangzi Qiang, a piece of folk music played by a band of amateur artists and created on a base of Shandong Bangzi Opera (Wooden Clapper Opera), stands out among the entries. It is a perfect blend of different musical instruments, especially the suona (double-reed horn) and the banhu (two-stringed spike fiddle).

A folk artist plays the suona, an important musical instrument used for the Shandong Bangzi Qiang. [Photo/Cultural Shandong]

Jia You Xian Qi (A Good Wife), is another entry in the competition finals from Shandong. It is a Shandong Bangzi Opera, a drama about two sisters-in-law celebrating the birthday of their mother-in-law.

A still from Jia You Xian Qi (A Good Wife), a Shandong Bangzi opera, which has entered into the 17th Galaxy Award finals. [Photo/Cultural Shandong]

The two entries will also be performed in some cities and counties throughout Shaanxi province, promoting cultural exchanges between Shandong and Shaanxi.

The Galaxy Award was set up by the Ministry of Culture in 1991 for amateur artists, in a bid to promote the prosperity and development of local culture, and also promote the great cause of socialist cultural development and prosperity.