Performers stage a xiaopin show titled Please Speak to the Strangers at the 7th National Xiaoxi and Xiaopin Festival in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu province. [photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A festival celebrating two of China's most beloved traditional performing arts was held at Zhangjiagang Cultural Center in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu province on Oct 29-Nov 3.

The event was devoted to promoting the traditional arts of xiaoxi, an ancient storytelling art integrating song and dance, and xiaopin, a traditional type of comedy skit.

The 7th National Xiaoxi and Xiaopin Festival lasted six days and was held as part of the ongoing 2017 Yangtze River Culture and Art Festival.

Thirty-three xiaoxi and 20 xiaopin shows were held in total, with the performances integrating the styles of more than 20 regional folk art forms including Henan Opera from Henan province and Huangmei Opera from Anhui province.

Excellent xiaopin shows including The Blind, Beauty like a Flower, and Unscheduled Disappearance won long applause from the audience with their exquisite staging, witty and humorous performances, and profound stories.

Unscheduled Disappearance, a production by Shanghai Hongkou Culture Center, was a particular favorite due to its interesting plot reflecting the challenges facing government officials working in Tibet autonomous region. In these remote areas without mobile signal, Tibetan cadres often cannot contact their families and go missing.

Since it was first held in 2007, the festival has attracted many drama performers from across the country and invited top experts to exchange experiences on the performances to preserve and promote the dramatic arts of Zhangjiagang and other cities along the Yangtze River.