Qinqiang Opera Xian

Qingqiang Opera is extremely popular in the provinces of Shaanxi and Gansu. The former was once a part of the ancient Qin Region, as a result Qingqiang Opera is also called Qin Drama. It is also known by the name Bang Zi Qiang because the musician hits the floor to produce some semblance of rhythm during the opera.

Qingqiang Opera takes its origin from the various local folk songs and dance forms in the Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. The valleys of these places have been the fertile sites of growth of Chinese cultures.

Shaanxi alone has over ten different types of local operas, some of them being- Qinqiang, Wanwanqiang, Mihu, Tongzhou Bangzi. Among these Qinqiang is few notches higher in terms of popularity. A typical opera performance is characterized by fervent and loud music.

In a Qinqiang show usual proceeds with the accompaniment of microtones. Playing microtones requires great skill since the artist also has to make use of his left thumb. Music is indispensable to the performance of Qinqiang Opera; it is very diligently used to express the mood of the performance. Glissando is used to produce both weeping as well as comical melody.

Xian hosts the annual Qinqiang Opera, which attracts tourists in hordes. Hundreds of talented artists from the northwest provinces of China exhibit their talents before the cheering crowd. The Qinqiang Opera festival in Xian is funded by Chinese Dramatists Association and Shaanxi Provincial Government. The festival is one of the ways in which the China is trying to preserve the erosion of these ancient operas by more engaging forms of entertainment. The festival lasts little less than two weeks.

Xi'an Yisu Society is one of the most famous Qinqiang Opera performing troupe and also considered to be one of the three prominent ancient theaters in the world. It was established in 1912.