Discover the Pingtan artform

Pingtan is an artform that originated in Suzhou and became popular in Shanghai and the surrounding Jiangnan region.

It dates back to the Song dynasty and is part of the Chinese narrative musical tradition. Pingtan is known for simple but rich performances that are innovative but still carry on the tradition.

The Shanghai Pingtan Troupe was established on November 20, 1951, as the first national Pingtan troupe of China. It is among the country’s best Pingtan troupes. It aims to “cultivate talents, create works and take the right way”, to pass on Pingtan art and carry forward the national culture.

In this video, we see a great example of cultural exchange between China and Europe. A European visitor enjoys the beauty of the Yu Garden and joins the Shanghai Pingtan Troupe with his accordion. Watch these two worlds unite!