The opera is an indispensable part of the Chinese dramatic arts and has influenced many traditional operas, such as Laiwu Bangzi, Erjiaxian Opera, Yudongdiao, Xiangfu Opera, Shahe Opera and Jiangsu Bangzi.

Tai'an city of Shandong province has played a crucial role in the development and heritage of this kind of opera. The city has been home to a professional Shandong bangzi opera group since 1953. With a history of more than fifty years, the group has performed and created various plays. Some of the plays have even won provincial prizes and appeared on CCTV.

Shandong Bangzi Qilindai  tells a love revenge story deriving from the betrayal of a hero named Yao Qinlin. Yao abandoned his former lover Zhang Caizhen and decided to marry his cousin for wealth, but was strangled by the ghost of Zhang who died during pregnancy. [Photo/tawh.gov.cn]