Quanzhou puppetry [Photo provided to enquanzhou.com]

Quanzhou puppetry, known as string puppets in ancient China, has been passed down in Quanzhou for more than 1,000 years. More than 700 traditional puppetry dramas have been preserved over that time.

Traditional Quanzhou puppetry drama retains many elements from the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties, and a lot of content from folk beliefs, and wedding and funeral rituals from ancient Quanzhou and southern Fujian.

The art form is of great importance to research into folk beliefs and customs in southern Fujian.

The Quanzhou Puppetry Troupe, the main contemporary successor of Quanzhou marionettes, has created and performed many influential plays and won honors in dozens of major competitions at home and abroad since its founding in 1952.

Quanzhou puppetry was listed in the first batch of national Intangible cultural heritages in 2006 and was selected in 2012 on the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices by UNESCO.