Quyi art form wins top award

Ti Gong

Jiading District has been awarded a “China Renowned Quyi City,” becoming the country’s fourth to win the title.

Changzhi in Shanxi Province, Zhangjiagang in Jiangsu Province and Xigang in Liaoning Province are the other three renowned quyi cities. Quyi is the general term for several hundred speaking and singing art forms in China.

“Quyi artists in Jiading staged works favored by the general public. These works are talentedly and passionately created. Quyi plays a big role in the life of both adults and children in Jiading,” said a member of the survey team.

There are eight district-level quyi cultural bases across Jiading such as the Laolehui Club in Malu Town. At the club every month, the community would invite popular quyi artists to perform. Performances vary from monodrama to pingtan, a combination of storytelling and ballad singing in the Suzhou dialect.

Besides district-level quyi centers, almost every neighborhood and town has its own quyi base. The Juyuan Old Tea House on Shengzhu Road is a favorite with not only community residents, but also citizens from Jing’an District, the Pudong New Area, and even Taicang and Kunshan cities in neighboring Jiangsu Province.

“I like visiting the old tea house in my spare time. Brewing a cup of tea, listening to a piece of quyi music and chatting with several friends, life of such is full of charm,” said Wang Rugang, a famous performing artist.

“I often bring my child to the Juyuan Old Tea House. We can restore the ancient ways by drinking tea and watching performances here, meanwhile children can learn excellent quyi culture here,” said Chen Ajuan, a resident in Jiading.

Jiading holds various quyi contests for children and teenagers.

Excellent performers will represent the district at the national children’s quyi competition this year.

Ti Gong

Ti Gong

Ti Gong