Monkey King competition, cultural week to be held in Jiyuan

The 2025 China Monkey Mountain Monkey King Competition and the inaugural National Great Sage Cultural Arts Week will be held in Jiyuan, Henan province, from Sept. 20-27, organizers announced at a press conference on Monday in Beijing. 

Actor Zhang Jinlai (right) poses with young Monkey King performer Sun Jingpeng at a press conference held at Legoland Discovery Center in Beijing, Aug. 18, 2025. [Photo/China.org.cn]

The Monkey King Competition will feature performers from eight major opera traditions showcasing their interpretations of Sun Wukong, the legendary hero from "Journey to the West." This gathering of leading performers is expected to be a highlight of cultural exchange. Another highlight is the inaugural National Great Sage Cultural Arts Week, which includes a Guinness World Record mass performance attempt with 1,000 Monkey King performers joining Zhang Jinlai, best known for his portrayal of the character in the popular 1986 television adaptation. 

Blending competitive, artistic and international elements, the event combines a competition with cultural showcases to foster confidence in traditional arts while encouraging youth participation in intangible heritage preservation.

In July, Zhang Jinlai, also known by his stage name Liu Xiaolingtong, was appointed cultural tourism ambassador for the city of Jiyuan, launching a comprehensive partnership with the local tourism sector.

In his speech at the press conference, Zhang highlighted the ties between Jiyuan's Wulongkou Scenic Area, a national AAAA-level tourist attraction known as China's "Monkey Mountain," where Kuang San'ao and his family have protected Taihang macaques for three generations, and Zhang's own family's four generations of dedication to monkey opera. He emphasized that the Wulongkou monkey habitat is not like a recreational zoo, but a living demonstration of harmony between humans and nature.

Looking ahead, he expressed his hope of establishing a Chinese monkey culture museum with Jiyuan authorities and enterprises. By leveraging immersive cultural tourism, the project aims to bring stage art into natural landscapes, merging tradition with modern life while sharing China's stories with the world.

"Wu Cheng'en's novel 'Journey to the West,' written more than 400 years ago, has influenced generation after generation," Zhang said. "In my opinion, it remains the world's greatest IP. From theater, film and television to cultural tourism, animation, comics and video games, we can explore and express China's rich monkey culture."

He added: "If my first half was devoted to preserving China's monkey opera tradition, then my remaining years will champion broader monkey culture — embodying Sun Wukong's tenacity, ambition, resilience, refusal to surrender, and above all, his indomitable optimism. May this heroic spirit endure for generations to come."