Puppet makes tea in innovative performance

In Fuding, Fujian province, intangible heritage inheritor Zhong Changgan combines a puppet show with the local specialty: Fuding white tea.

It's hard for a puppet to pick up a teacup and other items. They are often controlled by about 10 to 30 wires, and Zhong added more to make every gesture lively and smooth. Now, a puppet can complete the whole process of tea ceremony, from washing to brewing and serving.

Intangible heritage inheritor Zhong Changgan performs his specialty: a puppet making tea. [Photo by Wang Tingting/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Zhong was born into a family of puppeteers. He first learned about She ethnic style puppet shows from a troupe in the 1980s.

"A puppet making tea is my own innovative performance, which I developed in 2013," he said.

Zhong has performed in many regions. He and his troupe create one or two new performances each year, focusing on the culture of She, tea and folk life.