Monkey King performers gather for Great Sage Cultural Arts Week

The second Great Sage Cultural Arts Week and the 2026 China Monkey Mountain Monkey King Competition opened at Wulongkou Scenic Area in Jiyuan, Henan province, on May 19, coinciding with China Tourism Day, to promote "Journey to the West" culture and local cultural tourism.

Organizers launch the second Great Sage Cultural Arts Week and the 2026 China Monkey Mountain Monkey King Competition in Jiyuan, Henan province, May 19, 2026. [Photo courtesy of Henan Wangwu Cultural Tourism Group]

Wang Zhenlin, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China Working Committee of Jiyuan Demonstration Area, said Jiyuan is the spiritual home of "The Foolish Old Man Removes the Mountains," a classic Chinese fable about perseverance, and boasts rich natural and cultural resources. The Wulongkou Scenic Area, home to China's northernmost wild macaques, is known as "China's Monkey Mountain."

"The indomitable striving spirit of the Foolish Old Man and the enterprising spirit of overcoming hardships in 'Journey to the West' share the same cultural lineage, together engraving the spiritual foundation of the Chinese nation's continuous self-renewal and perseverance," he said.

Wang noted that since the first Great Sage Cultural Arts Week, Jiyuan's local cultural tourism brand has continued to gain recognition, a trend that coincides with the 40th anniversary of the 1986 TV adaptation of "Journey to the West," China's most-watched TV series. This year's event will feature monkey opera competitions, cultural exhibitions and industry exchanges.

He said Jiyuan will use the event as a springboard to deepen its cultural offerings and improve its facilities, with the aim of becoming a national benchmark for "Journey to the West" cultural experiences.

Renowned Monkey King actor Zhang Jinlai, known by his stage name Liu Xiaolingtong, said the cultural week and competition are significant for preserving and promoting "Journey to the West" and Great Sage culture.

He said he will continue to deepen strategic cooperation with Jiyuan, focusing on the protection of intangible cultural heritage and the promotion of the classic story to new audiences.

Li Qingjun, chairman of Henan Wangwu Cultural Tourism Group, said his company will continue developing the "Journey to the West" cultural IP, building an event that integrates artistic competition, industry collaboration and public participation.

He Lingduo, a Monkey King performer from Lijiang, Yunnan province, spoke on behalf of contestants. "The culture of the Monkey King is a shared classic memory of the Chinese people," he said. "Monkey opera performance is a traditional art rooted in the people and passed down from generation to generation."

He called on performers of the new generation to inherit the spirit of craftsmanship and promote the art of Great Sage culture.

Monkey opera performers from across the country then took the stage, drawing applause from the audience.

Renowned Monkey King actor Liu Xiaolingtong poses with Monkey King performers at the 2026 China Monkey Mountain Monkey King Competition in Jiyuan, Henan province, May 19, 2026. [Photo courtesy of Henan Wangwu Cultural Tourism Group]

Over the coming days, the competition will progress through preliminary rounds, semifinals and a final. Other events include a lecture by Liu Xiaolingtong at a local school, a cultural industry exchange conference, the unveiling of an industrial park, a project signing ceremony and the opening of the Great Sage Culture and Art Museum at the Wulongkou Scenic Area.

On May 24, the Jiyuan Demonstration Area will host members of the original cast and crew of the 1986 "Journey to the West" for activities marking the series' 40th anniversary.