A Haimen folk song performance is staged. [Photo/news.jstv.com]

With a long-standing and well-established history, Haimen folk song emerged in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and became prosperous in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It was after the May 4th Movement that Haimen folk song was collected and shined its brilliance. At that time, intelectuals like Guan Jiange, a predecessor of Haimen cultural and educational circle, were engaged in the living of broad masses and got down to the collection and research of folklore.

Haimen people are hard-working and capable of bearing hardships. Along with the pioneering and migrating of early Haimen people to the coastal areas of northern Jiangsu province, Haimen folk song has also spread to areas along the line of the Yellow Sea. Besides the local areas of Haimen, the coastal areas of Qidong, Tongzhou district, Chongming Island, Zhangjiagang and Yancheng were also within the delivery scope of Haimen folk song. Generally speaking, as long as there are Shadi people’s habitats in the coastal areas of northern Jiangsu, there shall be Haimen folk song. The performance market of the Haimen Folk Song Opera Troupe is generally delineated in this scope.

Haimen folk song concert [Photo/news.jstv.com]