Wang Biao (L) instructs his apprentice Yin Li in practicing shadow puppetry performance skills at the Sichuan Wang Shadow Puppetry Art Museum in Langzhong City, northern Sichuan Province last week.

Wang hails from a traditional shadow puppetry family in Langzhong, where generations of folk artists carry on this cultural gem. The puppets are mostly carved from cowhide or paper, with facial makeup and costumes often imitating Sichuan opera. The singing style is similar to traditional Sichuan opera, and the repertoire mainly includes historical, mythological, and legendary stories. Integrating painting, carving, storytelling, and opera, shadow puppetry has been inscribed by UNESCO as a representative item of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Xinhua