Chongqing—A lively folk opera from the heart of Chongqing will take the national stage on October 14, competing for China's top community arts award for the first time in nearly a quarter-century.

The Sound of Singing (Ge Sheng Liao Liang), a Liangshan Lantern Opera piece from Liangping District, will be staged at the Chengdu City Music Hall as a finalist in the 20th National Qunxing Awards drama category. It's the region's first contender since the same art form last won the award in 2001 with The Son-in-Law (Zhao Nü Xu).

The Liangshan Lantern Opera "The Sound of Singing" is being performed. (Photo/The Organizer)

Born from folk songs sung in rice fields and perfected over generations, Liangshan Lantern Opera is more than local entertainment - it's a living record of eastern Sichuan’s culture, now being reimagined for modern audiences.

Why This Opera Stood Out

When writers first drafted The Sound of Singing—a humorous story about a village elder whose out-of-tune chorus goes viral—they faced a key question: How should it be performed?

Lu Guangfeng, deputy director of the Chongqing Mass Art Center, didn't hesitate. "Liangshan Lantern Opera was the obvious choice," said Lu, who has worked in local theater for over 30 years.

While Chongqing has many local art forms - like the colorful Xiushan Flower Lantern or compact Sichuan Opera - Liangshan Lantern Opera stands out with its signature "fun, laughter, and playfulness" and physical style involving "twisting, swaying, and leaping." These traits, Lu explained, fit the show's cheerful, down-to-earth characters perfectly. As a recognized intangible cultural heritage, it also carries a cultural identity unique to Chongqing.

The Liangshan Lantern Opera "The Sound of Singing" is rehearsing. (Photo/The Organizer)

With roots stretching back to the Ming Dynasty, the art form blends lantern dances and folk songs into stories about everyday life. "It was born from the land and speaks the language of its people," said Wang Zeliang, head of the Liangping District Cultural Center.

A Script Transformed

Turning the original script into a lantern opera wasn't simple. It took almost a year and multiple rewrites to shift from straightforward dialogue to musical storytelling.

"Choosing Liangshan Lantern Opera was what made the piece stand out," said scriptwriter Zhong Shuwei. The team tested every revised version in front of local audiences, watching carefully for laughs and reactions. "If a line or gesture didn’t land, we changed it," Zhong added.

The Step That Stumped the Stars

Casting the lead role of "Grandpa Zuo" - a rustic yet skillful character - proved surprisingly difficult. Four different actors were tried and replaced. The main obstacle? A single traditional dance move known as the "cross-step."

"You can't just act or sing - you have to move with the distinctive Liangshan style," Wang Zeliang explained. Many actors could deliver their lines well but couldn't master the subtle, playful bounce essential to the role.

The Liangshan Lantern Opera "The Sound of Singing" is rehearsing. (Photo/The Organizer)

Rehearsals lasted eight months, and the final actor spent countless hours perfecting the step until it felt natural. "The charm is in the details," said Xu Chunxiang, a veteran performer and inheritor of the art. The step looks simple, but it holds generations of expression."

Music from the Heart of the Countryside

The music for the performance also tells a story of tradition. Most of the musicians are in their seventies and eighties, with the youngest at 77 and the oldest, gong player Hu Shixue, at 83.

These elders, who usually play at village weddings and funerals, were invited to join the production. They don't read sheet music - every rhythm and melody has been passed down by ear and heart.

“Their playing isn't polished, but it's real - it breathes with the soul of our countryside," Wang said.

Carrying the Torch

For Xu Chunxiang, the upcoming performance is deeply personal. She sang in the ensemble of The Son-in-Law, the 2001 award-winning show. This time, she takes the lead, supported by musicians old enough to be her elders.

"What I want most is for Liangshan Lantern Opera to find new life in the next generation," she said.

Ren Jing, director of the Chongqing Mass Art Center, sees the production as more than an award contender. "This isn't just about winning. It's about reconnecting with our roots, and bringing tradition into the future."

On October 14, 27 productions will compete for only ten awards. But whatever the result, when the gong sounds and the performers step into the light, a centuries-old art will have already claimed its victory.