Like Peking Opera and other traditional national arts in China, Piyingxi, or the shadow play show, known as a Chinese intangible cultural heritage, has spread to many countries.

A scene from Beijing Shadow Show Troupe's play, Pilgrimage to the West [Beijing Shadow Show Troupe]

Vivid design and a rich variety of colors, delicate costumes, change of lighting, and unique singing, together make up the fascinating world of shadow play.

As an ancient form of storytelling and entertainment, shadow play artists use articulated figures in front of an illuminated backdrop to create the illusion of moving images.

Piyingxi is a shadow theatre using leather puppets. The figures are usually moved by people behind a thin screen. Shadow play is not entirely a show of shadows, but rather, a show of silhouettes.

Today I watched a shadow play show at The Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and fascinated by the splendid performance.

Most young people have little understanding of what shadow play is, despite it's 2000 year old history. It's a pity that nowadays young people don't know how to appreciate this traditional art.