Jilin Opera (Jiju)

Jiju was created in the 1950s by Jilin Province performing-arts workers, based on errenzhuan and enriched with northeastern folk songs and Beijing opera; officially named 'Jiju' in 1960.

Arias are built on slow-tempo, fast-tempo and free-tempo structures; performance style is lively and unaffected, costumes close to northeastern folk aesthetics.

As Jilin's only provincial opera genre, jiju is a key marker of northeastern cultural identity and a significant experiment in adapting errenzhuan to formal theatre.

The Changchun Jiju Theatre is the primary venue; troupes also perform across the province.