A Qitai yangko opera competition is currently underway in Shanxi province, seeking out the best singers and performers of the national intangible cultural heritage.

Qitai yangko is a traditional folk opera originating in Qixian and Taigu counties in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It combines ballads and folk dance which reflect local life. Today, there are more than 300 operas and some 300 songs in its gamut, and it continues to be popular in central Shanxi and northern Shaanxi province.

The competition, in its second year, will run until early January, 2017, and is divided into two categories – acapella singing, and role-play singing. The contest will take place over four rounds, from preliminary to final. Gold, silver, and bronze medals will be awarded across a range of categories including best singers, dancers, plays, and scriptwriters.

The judging will be carried out by the organizers of the competition, including the Qixian bureau of culture, experts of the Shanxi Folk Literature and Art Association, as well as voting online.

Apart from encouraging more people to learn and disseminate the art, the event aims to boost the creation of operas and folk songs for Qitai yangko.

Li Ronggang, chairman of Shanxi Folk Literature and Art Association, said that he hoped in the future that the county will be able to train hundreds of famous performers, opera troupes, and create plays for the art.

"By seeking financial support from the Ministry of Culture, Shanxi will add tours of Qitai yangko in North China and further its promotion around the country and beyond," said Li at a recent news conference of the competition.

An actor and an actress perform Qitai yangko, a folk opera originating in Qixian and Taigu counties of Shanxi, at a news conference for the second Shanxi Qitai yangko Competition, which was initiated in Qixian county on Dec 1. [Photo/sx.people.com.cn]

Two singers sing a ballad at the news conference in Qixian county on Dec 1. [Photo/sx.people.com.cn]