OPERA WITH STRINGS

On May 18, Kunqu Opera will celebrate 22 years on the list as a UNESCO Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

But in the city of Suzhou in Jiangsu province, a once-forgotten form of the opera is enjoying a new life.

In Qidu town, artists have revived a tradition that combines Kunqu Opera with puppetry, resulting in a fascinating form that is known as Kunqu puppetry.

It all began in 2004, when the Suzhou Opera School started a Kunqu class, and Qidu town decided to work on the restoration of the tradition.

Sun Jing, Shi Jinfang, and Shi Xiaoming, who were attending middle and high school at the time, were chosen to first study Kunqu and then puppetry at the school. After graduating in 2009, they moved to Qidu and dedicated themselves to Kunqu puppetry. Over the past 18 years, they have performed in 280 shows, drawing more than 70,000 spectators.

"Because we are short of hands, some traditional plays cannot be performed," said Sun Jing. "As a result, we are working to set up a demonstration center for Kunqu puppetry and hope to use it to hold public performances to attract more young people to experience and learn about Kunqu puppetry. Together, we hope to pass down this art form."