By CGTN's Zheng Yibing & Yang Yan 

The “Chuanbei Big Puppet Show” in Nanchong, in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, has been listed as an item of national intangible cultural heritage. And what makes this traditional performance so special is the use of life-sized puppets.

The art dates back over 300 years, and 82-year-old Li Siyuan is a recognized master of his trade.

You can’t just rely on your hands to perform the big puppet show. Footwork is needed as well. The puppets, through the control of puppeteers, can do a lot of things – such as dress up, light a candle, and even perform the magical face-changing shows, just like the ones performed in real-life operas.”

Master Li Siyuan teaches how to perform. /CGTN Photo 

Each puppet is at least 1.8 meters tall, and weighs over 20 kilograms. It takes skill and effort to really control them well. According to Li Siyuan, a skilled puppeteer needs at least three to four years of basic training, starting from a body performance to the synchronized performance of both puppeteer and puppet.

A popular art form when television and film were rare, its popularity is now in decline. 

"The traditional puppet, along with the ability to control it, is fast becoming a rarity in China, both in rural and urban areas. So, successfully passing this dying cultural heritage from one generation to the next is becoming a real challenge," noted Li. 

International audience get fascinated by the show./ CGTN Photo 

"Puppet shows have no big influence nowadays. Few people truly understand it, and it’s pretty difficult for us to recruit students to make this art flourish."

That’s not to say that there are no fans. One of them is Li’s grand-daughter, Li Jujing. "Such performances are physical work. So I could only start learning at 15. Now I am 23, and have been on stage for about five years. I hope the art will see better development, and be loved by many."

At the Asia-Pacific International Puppetry Festival in Nanchong this week, the show has been drawing attention, both from China and the international community.

The big puppet show in Nanchong is slowly gaining acceptance and popularity with younger generations. Masters like Li Siyuan hope this age-old art and tradition can thrive in this modern era.

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