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Chinese Shadow Puppetry: Living Folk Art

Travel 14:25, 03-Nov-2026

CGTN

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Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province, China Shanhaiguan Great Wall Museum, Oct, 2026. /CGTN

Shadow puppetry performance frame

Behind the shadow-puppetry screen

Behind the Screen: Wu Song Fights the Tiger

Shadow Puppetry: Moments of Lively Interaction

A Variety of Vibrant Shadow Puppetry Props

Detailed View of Shadow Puppetry Props

Tools for Making Shadow Puppets

Light Reveals Fine Shadow‑Puppet Details

A crowd gathers around a simple white cloth screen as familiar stories come to life, through the magic of light and shadow.

In the traditional performance art of Chinese shadow puppetry, performers manipulate delicately carved leather figures behind an illuminated screen of white cloth while speaking and singing the stories, supported by an ensemble of drums, gongs, and traditional reed and string instruments.

The seven members of Bailing Shadow Puppet Troupe, established in northern China’s Hebei province in 1993, are working hard to keep this tradition alive, with performances and workshops across China and overseas.

Their vast array of specialized puppets, complete with intricate painting and movable limbs, allow these masters to perform such classics as Journey to the West, as well as contemporary works.

Every detail, on stage and behind the scenes, embodies the spirit of craftsmanship and cultural inheritance.