In modern urban China, people often go to cinemas or theatres to for entertainment. But in the countryside, people have different ways of amusing themselves. Come to the Majie Folk Artists Fair and enjoy a traditional rural delight.

 Majie Folk Artists Gathering: a bustling fair

Every 13th day of the first month by the Chinese lunar calendar, folk artists from across the country gather in Majie village in C. Henan Province to demonstrate what they do best. With the sky as their roof and the field as their stage, the artists start performing in pairs or solo from the early morning. Throughout the day, the village is filled with the sound of people singing, laughing and applauding.

Artists Are Performing

On the hilltops, in the fields and along the riverbank, folk artists sing ballads and tell stories to the accompaniment of bamboo clappers or stringed instruments. There are various schools of storytelling and ballad singing, but most performers come from Henan Zhuizi - a school of storytelling in Henan Province. The subjects mainly focus on ancient legends, heroes, virtuous ladies and patriots who died for their country. As society develops, more of the stories reflect modern life.

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