A Chinese pingtan artist performs with Egyptian youth. [Photo/WeChat account: wuxishilvyouju]

Wuxi Pingtan Troupe from Wuxi, Jiangsu province, traveled to Egypt, bringing a harmonious blend of cultures to the Middle Eastern artistic stage.

At the Cairo Opera House, the graceful music of the East harmonized with the ancient civilization of Egypt. The performance began with the melodious Scenery of Wuxi, narrated in the soft Wu dialect, which painted a vivid picture of the picturesque bridges and flowing waters of the Jiangnan region.

The storytelling segment, The Three Kingdoms: Reed Flower Marsh, was delivered with enthusiasm, using traditional narrative singing to depict heroic tales. Following this, a series of exquisite pingtan (a traditional storytelling and singing art form) and songs sung in the Wu dialect were characterized by their elegance and lingering charm.

Egyptian youth learn to speak the Wu dialect. [Photo/WeChat account: wuxishilvyouju]

The most captivating moment of the entire performance was the collaboration between Chinese and Egyptian youth. Pingtan artists collaborated with students from Ain Shams University in Egypt to perform Blooming Flowers and Full Moon alongside the Egyptian classic Enta Omri.

Egyptian youth learn to play traditional Chinese instruments. [Photo/WeChat account: wuxishilvyouju]

At the same time, a lecture on the art of Chinese pingtan was held at the China Cultural Center in Cairo. The lecture provided an accessible and in-depth exploration of pingtan, covering its origins, various schools, and performance essence. Audience members also had the opportunity to immerse themselves in its unique allure by learning to sing pingtan, speak the Wu dialect, and play traditional Chinese instruments such as the pipa and sanxian.