Shanghai Happy Valley will hold a New Year's Festival from Feb 10 to 24, bringing Zhangzhou bag puppet and Scotland bagpipe performances to the region.

The Zhangzhou bag puppet performance, characterized by a dramatic and vivid show with fingers and palm controlling the puppet, has a history of over 1,000 years. It is a "palm art" that combines great finesse, exquisite design and unique style. The Zhangzhou bag puppet show was listed as one of the first national intangible heritages by the State Council in 2006. It will bring its stage to the Ant Castle of Shanghai Happy Valley during Spring Festival to deliver a funny, dramatic and vivid adventure to visitors.

Scotland bagpipes, a symbol of Scotland highland traditional culture, will be played for visitors. As a former communication tool between tribes to defend against invasion, bagpipes have always been an integral part of Scottish culture. This instrument is most commonly seen at Scottish weddings, used to laud the beauty and perfection of marriage by virtue of its salutatory, plain and melodious tunes. The bagpipes will surely bring peace and happiness to the garden as they play Chinese folk music during the auspicious festival.

The Scotland bagpipe band will deliver performances from Lakeside Plaza to Outside Plaza along Shopping Street every day from Feb 10 to 25. The Zhangzhou bag puppet group will put on three shows a day at Ant Castle. Residents who are interested in these intangible cultural heritages can come to the garden to enjoy the music through the excellent Canto-Western performances.

Notice：

1. Migrant workers can enjoy half price discounts (100 yuan/each)($16) at an appointed window with his or her Shanghai temporary residence card and ID.

2. Local residents aged 50 or over can visit the garden for free with their IDs.

3. A man can take a woman to visit the garden for free if he buys a full night ticket (80 yuan) on the nights of Feb 14 (Valentine's Day) and Feb 24 (Lantern Day）.

Scotland bagpipes shows

The Zhangzhou bag puppet show