Caidiao Folk Opera

Caidiao developed from folk song-and-dance and local tunes in rural northern Guangxi, flourishing across the region in the late Qing and Republican period; primarily comic in character, performers wear colorful costumes and carry fans or pipes, singing and dancing simultaneously in vivid, humorous language full of rural life.

The ensemble features huqin fiddle, yangqin dulcimer and sanxian lute; the singing style is brisk and bright, with repertoire centered on short plays about rural romance, family life and social customs, performed in a natural, vivid manner close to the audience's experience.

Inscribed in 2006 on the first national ICH list, caidiao is a vital part of cultural life in rural northern Guangxi; its light-hearted humor has made it beloved by local audiences for generations.

Professional and amateur caidiao troupes are active across Guilin and northern Guangxi, taking the stage at village temple fairs and seasonal festivals.