Guilin Arts & Culture
From opera and drama to folk and dance, Guilin's theaters offer a little
something for everyone. If the theatre isn't your idea of fun, try heading
to the Guilin Art Museum to see all that this huge museum has to offer.
Opera & Ballad Singing
Theaters
Museum
Gui Opera
Gui Opera developed during the Ming and Qing Dynasties and
became a popular art form in Guilin and north regions to Guilin. Tourists from Anhui Province introduced the Anhui Tune in
Guilin, and the Anhui Tune developed into Gui Tune later.
Melting with palace opera of Jingjiang Palace and folk opera
introduced by musicians from palace in Ming dynasty, Gui Opera
performed in Guilin local dialect then formed with Gao, Kun,
Chui, Tan, and Za tunes.
In 1950, Bracelet, a show of the Gui Opera by Guilin Gui Opera
Troupe had won the second prize in performances and the first
prize in performer in China Opera Show. The Legend of Concubine
Yao, a new play by the troupe, had been rewarded the Wenhua
Prize by China Cultural Administration.
Cai Tune
Cai Tune in Guilin is the earliest popular folk opera form
to the north of Guilin. Male players use colorful fans, while
the female players walk in small steps with colorful handkerchiefs. They play actively, singing and dancing at the same time. Sister Liusanjie, a Cai Tune play had been adapted for the
movie, which made Cai Tune even more famous.
Plate Shoes Dance, Zhuang Nationality
Zhuang Nationality is original inhabitants in Guangxi. Plate
shoes dance is a popular art form in Zhuang Nationality regions. The shoes can be divided into three types: plate shoes for
2, 3 and more persons. It reflects the teamwork spirit of
unification to win victories.
Gongcheng Tanxi Opera and Dance
Tanxi, also known as Ghost Opera, is developed on Tan dance. Tanxi is different from ordinary operas. It has no roles
of Sheng, Dan, Jing and Chou, and also has no specialized and
standardized playing procedures. Normally, Tanxi is played
by 1 to 3 persons in colorful clothes and masks. The performance
is influenced by Cai Tune and it absorbs the tunes of Cai Tune.
Tanxi has no special troupes and mainly performs on occasions
of praying and offering sacrifices to gods and ancestors.
Lusheng Dance, Miao Nationality
Lusheng, a reed-pipe wind instrument, is popular in minority
nationalities regions in Southern part of China. A famous
saying in Miao Nationality goes like this: one can not resist
temptation to dance when he hears the sound of Lusheng. When
guests come, boys play the Lusheng and girls dance to welcome
guests with the Lusheng dance.
Long Drum Dance, Yao Nationality
Long Drum Dance is a traditional art form of Yao Nationality. About 2 chi 5 cun ('chi' and 'cun' and ancient Chinese length
measurements), Long Drum is made of Yanzhi wood. The drum
is thin in the middle with the decorations of flowers, birds,
dragons and phoenix patterns on it. Some long drum has bells
on both ends and in the middle. When people play the drum,
the bells sound harmoniously with the drum sound. It is said
that ZaPanKuai was hit to cliff by brutal antelopes. People
then began using skin of antelopes to make drum and beat it
when dancing to show the hatred to antelopes and the memorization
to their ancestors.
Folk Art Forms
 The folk art forms mainly include Wenchang, Yugu, Dagu, Linglingluo,
and Tanci. With special Guilin characteristics, these folk
art forms are performed in Guilin local dialect and are melted
with folk songs in South China, Dagu in North China and Tanci
in Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces.
In 1962, a professional folk arts troupe was founded in Guilin
and it had almost 100 plays up to 1991. Representing Guangxi
Zhuang Autonomous Region, it had participated in the China
National Folk Art Forms Show for 4 times. The play of Wu'niang
Going to the Capital won the first prize in 1981. The plays
of Toasting, Qingwen Sewing the Clothes, and New Official Taking
Position of Linglingluo, won prizes in 1986 and 1990. The
play of Chunlan Yin had been rewarded the Wenhua Prize in 1997.
Li River Ethnic Night
The Li River Ethnic Night consists of the Li River Night Cruise
and Dancing in the Water Pavilion. The water pavilion is located
at No. 2 Dock, Binjiang Road on the west bank of Li River,
next to the Li River Yinzuo Ferry in Guilin. Travelers can
watch the ethnic performance and then enjoy a cruise along
the Li River.
Li River Folk Customs Center
The Li River Folk Customs Center in Guilin is located where Li
River meets the Xiaodong River. Travelers will appreciate the
ethnic customs, arts, cuisines and architecture. Enjoying the
singing, dancing and performances of the ethnic minorities can
be an enjoyable experience. Travelers are sure to find tasting
the ethnic delicacies a memorable experience.
Liu Sanjie Performance
 Liu Sanjie is a major performance, which is set in the natural
landscape of Yangshuo, and is directed by the famous Chinese
director, Zhang Yimo. The stage for the performance is composed
of a two kilometer long water area with twelve mountains as
the background. It is the largest natural theater in the world.
The whole performance lasts for about 60 minutes with a cast
of some 600 performers, most of whom are local fishermen.
The site of this great performance is about one kilometer away
from the West Street in Guilin. Guides at the Center speak
Chinese, Cantonese, English and Japanese.
Theater shows are also quite popular in Guilin and along Jiefang
Xi Road there are several great locations to enjoy theater. Friday and Saturday nights are the busiest for theater fans
choosing watching operatic, acrobatic, variety, or Western
oriented entertainment.
Guishan Zhi Xiu (The Beauty of Guishan)
The performance features Guangxi customs and ethnic color,
such as Zhuang, Miao, Dong and Yao ethnics. The themes cover
Yao wedding dance, ethnic costume show and harvest dance. This
elegant and passionate performance will refresh travelers from
different cultural backgrounds.
Address: Minghua Palace, Guishan Hotel, No. 1 Chuanshan Road,
Guilin
Huayuan Zhi Ye (Garden Night)
This is the largest dome architecture of organic glass in Asia. Performance of as many as 12 ethnics is put on here nightly.
Address: Guilin Royal Garden Hotel, No. 186-1 Linjiang Road,
Guilin
Haohua Zhi Ye (Luxury Night)
Travelers can taste unique delicacies of Lingnan Mountain styles
food and enjoy the folk acrobatics performance.
Address: Art Museum at junction of Jiefang Xi Road and Rong
Yin Road, Guilin
Guilin Art Museum
The Guilin Art Museum is considered the most complete museum
in Guilin and one of the biggest museums in southwest China. Its large collections with backgrounds have enabled it to
build a very good reputation, while at the same time contribute
to local cultural education and cultural exchange. The museum
has collected many famous paintings from the masters of the
past to the present day artists. It also periodically holds
fine art exhibitions.
The Artists Gallery on the second floor of the Guilin Art
Museum sells paintings from the artists whose work has been
collected by the museum (pieces in other areas are also for
sale upon communicating with the artists.) Many of the paintings
from these up-and-coming artists are very distinctive in style
and will continue to hold value from a collector's standpoint. Separated by artists in China and abroad, Guilin Art Museum
enjoys a highly respected position in the field of fine art. It is an ideal place for people from all over the world to
appreciate art.
NOTE:
Although this information is correct at the time of our web publication,
it is still advised that you call the phone number and confirm
the address before going to the venue because some venues may
have changed their telephone numbers or address locations.
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