Pulling strings: Chinese marionette tradition lives on in Xiamen
Traditional troupes, such as the Quanzhou Puppet Troupe, perform for visitors and for gala events at the birthplace of Chinese puppeteering
Xiamen expresses China’s modern-day split between hyper-modern and staunchly traditional like few other Chinese cities can.
The city’s location and traditional role as the “doorway to China” led to Xiamen being always at the forefront of change and adaptation. Overseas Chinese ensured that the best of what they encountered abroad would eventually make it back to the hometown.
The clearest example of that today is the cityscape, especially at night. Xiamen’s clean, slick streets and buildings rub off on the people, who are connoisseurs of the finer things in life, be they a fine seafood meal, a bottle of wine, or the beautiful décor of an avant-garde café.
At the same time, the strength of the city’s community lies in its ability to make history thrive today through living examples of traditions long sacred to the people of this region.