Chongqing- Xiaoguanshan in Fengdu District is a collection of six family courtyards dating from the Ming and Qing dynasties and were relocated from the now submerged Three Gorges Reservoir area as cultural relics. The buildings feature traditional homes, temples, and gateways that now hold great value in terms of history, art, and research.
Listed among the second batch of protected cultural relics in Chongqing Municipality since 2009, the site is now open to the public. Visitors can enjoy traditional 'Zhangtou' wooden puppet shows themed on local folk legends.
The Qin Family Courtyard was relocated and reconstructed at the Xiaoguanshan site along with five others from the Three Gorges Reservoir area. (iChongqing-James Alexander)
While puppet shows have long been performed elsewhere in China, inheritors of the 'Zhangtou' variety in Fengdu have drawn upon local Ghost City legends to create a series of entertaining performances, such as one themed on the mythical figure 'Zhongkui,' who wards off evil spirits.
This intangible cultural heritage item has been recognized at the county level, and a dedicated team of inheritors regularly performs this traditional style of entertainment in the Qin Family Courtyard at Xiaoguanshan.
Unique themes of Fengdu puppetry are storylines based on Ghost City legends, such as the deity figure of Zhongkui warding off evil spirits. (iChongqing-James Alexander)
Despite the appearance of simplicity, the complete set of skills needed to perform a whole puppet show requires between two and three years of professional training to master.
Apart from the physical demands of holding a 2-3kg puppet upright for prolonged lengths of time, even basic movements such as simple hand gestures and head turn need about an hour to grasp.
The wooden puppets weighing around 2-3kg require expert craftsmanship to produce, while performers train for up to three years to master the art form. (iChongqing-James Alexander)
The craftsmanship behind making these lifelike wooden puppets involves 32 individual steps, and expert skills are required to complete the arms, heads, and mechanical parts.
While this team of inheritors has successfully performed in various parts of China over the years, Xiaoguanshan is currently the only location where people can watch regular displays of this precious cultural heritage.