A puppet show in Paris - staged by a troupe from southeast China
Zhangzhou Puppet Show, an ancient form of performance with over 1,000 years' history, was brought to Paris to mark the Chinese New Year.
A troupe from Zhangzhou City in southeast China's Fujian Province, performed a show for a group of audience in Paris on Saturday, the first day of the Year of the Loong (Dragon), as part of the celebrations.
A stage at the Zhangzhou Puppet Show performance. /VCG Photo
It is also part of a series of cultural event to showcase the characteristics and history of Zhangzhou - listed as the National Intangible Cultural Heritage - during the Chinese-French Year of Cultural Tourism.
Xu Jieli, director of Zhangzhou Puppet Performance Art Center, said that it is a good chance for the people in France to get a touch of the culture and history in Zhangzhou City.
A puppet from Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province is on display in Beijing, China. /VCG Photo
Many of the audience who are familiar with the European puppet arts still found the Zhangzhou puppet show quite special and unique. The troupe artists have also interacted with the audience, and taught the children to play the puppet as well after demonstration.
Besides the puppet show, paper-cut displays and performances, tea art demonstrations, woodblock New Year painting exhibitions, and solo performances of the ancient qin instrument will also be performed or displayed in Paris.
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