The Shandong Bangzi Art Research Institute in Shandong province's Tai'an city recently started their campaign to bring opera performances to the city's rural areas to convey festive greetings and wishes to villagers with the Chinese New Year arriving.

Shandong Bangzi (Wooden Clapper Opera) is popular in the southwestern cities and rural areas of Shandong province.

This particular style of opera covers various topics, including dominating figures in various Chinese dynasties, folk legends, love affairs and family ethics.

In May 2006, the opera was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage for revealing regional culture and folk customs.

The Shandong Bangzi Art Research Institute has scheduled more than 20 performances to entertain residents in the city's rural areas during the Spring Festival holiday period.

Artists from the Shandong Bangzi Art Research Institute brave the cold weather and stage classic opera performances at a village in Taishan district of Tai'an, East China's Shandong province. [Photo/my0538.com]

Artists stage Shandong Bangzi opera to convey New Year greetings at a village in Taishan district of Tai'an, East China's Shandong province. [Photo/my0538.com]

Villagers enjoy a performance staged by the Shandong Bangzi Art Research Institute in Tai'an, East China's Shandong province. [Photo/my0538.com]