Shandong performer wins China's 2025 Monkey King competition

The 2025 China Monkey Mountain Monkey King Competition crowned its new Monkey King on Sept. 24 in Jiyuan, Henan province, as Zhang Xiaoyang from Zibo, Shandong province, claimed the Golden Monkey Award after four days of intense competition.

Zhang Xiaoyang, second from right, and his partner Song Dianliang, second from left, pose with legendary actor Liu Xiaolingtong, right, and local officials after Zhang received the Golden Monkey Award at the 2025 China Monkey Mountain Monkey King Competition finals in Jiyuan, Henan province, Sept. 24, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Jiyuan Cultural Tourism Group]

Zhang became fascinated with the Monkey King as a child, watching Liu Xiaolingtong's iconic performance in the "Journey to the West" TV series. He discovered Monkey King opera during university and began professional training despite facing injuries and setbacks. "As long as I dress up as the Monkey King, all my fatigue disappears," Zhang said. "This isn't just a task — it's a dream come true."

Zhang won the competition with a finals performance of "Borrowing the Fan" that blended Peking Opera and Shaoxing Opera techniques.

Zhang Xiaoyang and his partner Song Dianliang perform during the 2025 China Monkey Mountain Monkey King Competition finals in Jiyuan, Henan province, Sept. 24, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Jiyuan Cultural Tourism Group]

The competition ran from Sept. 21-24 at Wulongkou Scenic Area in Jiyuan, a national AAAA-level tourist attraction known as China's "Monkey Mountain." The event was part of the inaugural National Great Sage Cultural Arts Week, which ran from Sept. 20-27.

Sun Xu from Zibo, Shandong province, and Fan Wentong from Fushun, Liaoning province, received the Silver Monkey Awards, while Gao Jie from Jining, Shandong province, Gong Ruifen from Xiangyuan, Shanxi province, and Liu Rongkui from Jinzhong, Shanxi province, were awarded the Bronze Monkey Awards.

The competition also presented awards for best costume, best performance and creativity, with a special international cultural exchange award going to a dancer from Laos.

The competition attracted nearly 300 Monkey King performers from across China and was judged by Liu Xiaolingtong, the legendary actor who played Sun Wukong in the classic 1986 "Journey to the West" TV series. Performances included traditional opera, martial arts and dramatic scenes, evaluated on character portrayal, technical skill, creativity and cultural heritage preservation. Twenty finalists emerged after preliminary and semifinal rounds.

A composite photo shows various competition scenes and a group photo of finalists and winners on stage at the 2025 China Monkey Mountain Monkey King Competition finals in Jiyuan, Henan province, Sept. 24, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Jiyuan Cultural Tourism Group]

Finalists from across China performed in elaborate golden armor and red plumes with traditional opera face paint. They demonstrated acrobatic skills, including somersaults and staff techniques, while also focusing on storytelling and character development, showcasing the enduring appeal of this traditional art form, recognized as intangible cultural heritage.

The competition and cultural week demonstrated how traditional arts can boost tourism by bringing heritage performances from theaters to tourist destinations. The event showcased how cultural tourism can help preserve and promote China's intangible heritage through storytelling. The program included cultural exhibitions, performances and international exchanges.

"Fewer and fewer people my age are interested in traditional opera, and I'm worried this magnificent art form may not be carried forward," said Monkey King competition champion Zhang. But the competition gave him hope that events like this can "bring intangible cultural heritage out of theaters and present it to a broader audience."

Monkey King performers from across China pose on stage during the semifinal of the 2025 China Monkey Mountain Monkey King Competition in Jiyuan, Henan province, Sept. 21, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Jiyuan Cultural Tourism Group]

Zhang plans to continue perfecting his skills and classic performances while using social media platforms like short videos and livestreaming to share behind-the-scenes content with younger audiences. "I want to show more people my age that traditional art isn't 'old' — it's cool and full of charm," he added.