A group performing shadow puppetry in Gansu, June 29. [Photo by Chang Qibiao/Asianews photo]

On Thursday, a nine-day Chinese shadow puppetry show to be performed by nine shadow puppetry groups raised its curtains in Huining city, Northwest China's Gansu province.

Shadow puppetry was very popular during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and Song Dynasty (960-1279) in many parts of China. It is listed as the one of the intangible cultural heritages in Gansu province.

Shadow puppets were first made of paper sculpture, later from the hides of donkeys or oxen. That's why their Chinese name is pi ying, which means shadows of hides.