Shadow puppetry, also known as shadow play, is a folk drama whose characters are made of animal hides or cardboard. The puppeteers standing behind the calico manipulate the puppets and tell the stories in a popular tune, accompanied by percussion and string instruments. The folk art has spread across China in different styles due to various operatic tunes.

Shadow puppetry is a traditional Chinese folk art form and the local people of Beijing call it Lvpiying (shadow puppets made of donkey hides). According to the Chinese history, this historic art emerged in the Western Han Dynasty, developed in the Tang Dynasty and prevailed in the Qing Dynasty. It spread to Western Asia and Europe during the Yuan Dynasty. In 2011, the Chinese shadow puppetry was added to the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Based on learning from the traditional performances, the shadow puppetry in Hunan Province has improved a lot in its character modeling, background design, lights, acoustic performance and other aspects. Now the traditional opera music has been replaced by the composed music and animal puppets have played roles in performances. A number of excellent plays have been created and performed, including Two Friends, Fox and Raven and others, earning a great reputation at home and abroad.