Live Your Best Lives
A different shadow play is performed daily at the shadow puppet theater. It's said that Wuzhen is the only theater in China that still offers daily performances. This wild rose of folk art, steeped in the rich charm of Wuzhen's waterside village, continues to blossom, offering a lasting hope to those interested in traditional folk art.
Attraction Location: Wuzhen Ancient Town, Tongxiang City, Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province (浙江省嘉兴市桐乡市乌镇古镇)
History: The WuZhen Shadow Play Museum (乌镇皮影戏馆) was established to preserve and showcase the ancient art of shadow puppetry, which dates back more than a thousand years in China. Shadow play was once a popular form of entertainment in rural villages and towns, particularly in Zhejiang and northern China, combining storytelling, folk music, and craftsmanship.
Architecture: The museum is housed in a traditional Jiangnan-style wooden building, with whitewashed walls, grey-tiled roofs, and carved wooden windows. The intimate setting resembles a small folk theatre, giving visitors an authentic viewing experience.
Cultural Value: Shadow puppetry (皮影戏) is recognized as part of China’s intangible cultural heritage. The museum serves as a cultural hub where visitors can learn about the making of puppets, traditional performance techniques, and the folk stories that form the backbone of this art. It also helps keep this traditional entertainment alive by training new performers and preserving old scripts.
Opening Hours: 09:00–17:00 (subject to seasonal adjustments)
Ticket Price: Included in Wuzhen Scenic Area pass (approx. 120 RMB for East Gate (东栅), 150 RMB for West Gate (西栅))
Best Photo Spots: Inside the small theatre during a live shadow play performance
Traditional wooden stage with puppets illuminated by candlelight
Exhibits of colorful handmade shadow puppets
Time Reference: 30–45 minutes for the museum visit, 1–2 hours if staying for full performance sessions
It was very interesting. The play was "Havoc in the Dragon Palace". Many children watched it with great interest.
That year, you and I performed the shadow play, Liang Zhu turning into butterflies, can you please do that?
Outside the scenic area, joint tickets are available. The performance is 10 minutes long and features Sun Wukong fighting the Four Dragon Kings. There are subtitles and good reviews.
The performers of shadow puppetry are mostly veteran artists, wearing Tang Dynasty costumes and long jackets, and have quite artistic style.
Because we arrived late, I had no idea what the dance was about. But the shadow puppets danced up and down, looking incredibly lifelike. My friend and I even went backstage to watch. It's truly a truly exquisite art form.
It's a wonderful example of traditional culture. I watched it for about five minutes. It was about the story of Sun Wukong and the Four Dragon Kings. Afterward, I went backstage to see a few elderly people in their 50s and 60s performing it, very expertly.
The shadow puppet theater is located inside the Hanlin Mansion. Performances are scheduled every half hour and are free. There are several rows of benches in the auditorium. When we arrived, it was about ten minutes before the show started and we got a front row seat. Later, we realized there were only a few people watching. Nevertheless, it's a must-see. The performance depicts the story from "Journey to the West" where Sun Wukong asks Princess Iron Fan to borrow the palm-leaf fan. It's a fantastic show! Kudos to the artists behind the scenes for their hard work!
Shadow puppetry is still very interesting.
I like watching shadow puppetry. It seems that Chengdu and Xi'an also have shadow puppetry.
This must be praised. The shadow play I usually see on TV is so boring. I found it very different from the one on TV when I got there. I pay tribute to the master who truly sticks to traditional Chinese art.
It's very impressive. It's not easy to see the old artist for the first time.
Jiangnan characteristics, if you are tired of walking, it is also very pleasant to sit quietly and watch the shadow play for a while
The shadow play is held in Hanlin Academy, which is connected to the Xiuzhen Temple. Each show lasts about 20 minutes, with three shows in the morning and three in the afternoon. I'm not sure if the content is the same; the one I saw was about Sun Wukong fighting the Four Dragon Kings.
Originating in northern China during the Northern Song Dynasty, it spread to the Jiangnan region during the Southern Song. With a history of over 800 years in Jiangnan, Wuzhen shadow puppetry belongs to the Southern school. The presence of shadow puppetry in shadow puppet theaters may not only be a lingering nostalgia for the past by veteran artists, but also a return to and a yearning for a more pristine lifestyle.
It looks beautiful, but I don't know what it says and I can't understand it. There are still many people watching it.
It was my first time watching a shadow play and I was deeply attracted. I couldn't take my eyes off the story behind the curtain. It was worth it.
The preserved folk art is worth exploring!
I've only seen shadow puppets on TV, and they actually look like that!
Folk art like shadow puppetry is not available everywhere, so how can we miss it now that it exists?
Jiangnan characteristics, if you are tired of walking, it is also very pleasant to sit quietly and watch the shadow play for a while
Beautiful, historical and cultural heritage, now rare.
It is worth going here, where you can experience the past life of Wuzhen
Shadow puppetry, also known as "shadow play" or "lantern shadow play," is a folk opera that uses silhouettes of characters made from animal hides or cardboard to tell stories. It's a major attraction in Wuzhen. After a day of strolling around, it's a great opportunity to quietly watch a shadow play at night and reminisce about our culture.
Bring your children to watch it, adults will also find it interesting, but there are not many shows
A childhood memory, shadow puppetry. Very good.
I visit Wuzhen every year for a relaxing break, and I've been there no fewer than five times. I've stayed at waterfront guesthouses twice, but the overall value wasn't great. The rest of the time, I've stayed at Zhaoming Shushe, a very affordable hotel that usually requires booking a month in advance. It's a quiet and elegant retreat nestled in the city. The Shusheng mutton stall in the alleyway is absolutely amazing—a must-try in autumn and winter. I've visited all of Wuzhen's attractions more than a dozen times, most recently with my 50D and 1740 lens. Feel free to ask me any questions.
You can see the legendary shadow play, which is a classic.
It has local characteristics and the local dialect is not understandable. You can go and experience it.
Shadow puppetry, also known as "shadow play" or "local film," originated in northern China during the Northern Song Dynasty and spread to the Jiangnan region during the Southern Song. With a history of over 800 years in Jiangnan, Wuzhen's shadow puppetry belongs to the southern tradition. The presence of shadow puppetry in shadow puppet theaters may not only reflect a deep nostalgia for the past by veteran artists, but also a return to and a yearning for a more pristine lifestyle.
I was walking and passed by it accidentally. If there weren't so many people around, I would have missed it.
I went to see a shadow play. There were so many people, but it was great! It was the first time in my life that I saw a live shadow play performance!
Outside the Dongzha Scenic Area, you need to walk out of the scenic area and use the ticket of the day to enter. When we were in Dongzha, the staff told us that we could not go out and there were no attractions outside. As a result, the next day we accidentally walked in and could not get in! The ticket checking guy was really principled. There were only two people inside and he refused to let us go in to take a look.
Very interesting, rarely seen nowadays.
The shadow puppet theater is next to the entrance of Dongzha Scenic Area. To watch the shadow puppet show, you have to leave the scenic area and tell the security guard to change your ultraviolet stamp, otherwise you will not be able to enter the scenic area again.
I watched a shadow play here, but I couldn't quite understand what they were saying.
This is kind of fun, but the dubbing is incomprehensible.
It's very interesting. Although I don't understand what they are saying, I can understand it by watching the plot. I found it very interesting when I watched it for the first time! I even took a video~
I didn't see any shadow puppetry performances, but I'm still unfamiliar with shadow puppetry.
I stood at the door and watched for a while, but I couldn't understand what they were saying. This is the so-called language barrier. It was too hot so I didn't finish watching it. I think you can go and experience it.
It was my first time to watch a shadow play. I was so excited. Although I didn’t understand what they were singing, I loved it.
Very unique! There were no visitors 15 minutes before the show started. I went to wash my hands and the seats were full, so I had to stand... It was already full before the show started! I went there in the off-season of winter~~ Although I couldn't understand a word, I still thought it was very good~ I hope this kind of folk art can be preserved
It's very unique, especially suitable for taking children to watch.
The location is outside the Dongzha Scenic Area. You need to go out first and then swipe your ticket to enter the scenic area. The shadow play is very interesting, but you have to catch the right time. You will definitely not be able to watch it if you join a tour group. They will not let you wait for the time...
I passed by the shadow puppet theater, but it was not show time, what a pity
What you are watching is not a shadow play, but a feeling.
It looks just like it did in ancient times, very simple, and I can't understand what is being said, so I just take a look.
I don't know much about this, I just took a picture and thought it was beautiful.
It was a very interesting experience. I was able to quietly go behind the scenes and see how the shadow puppet show was performed.
It's similar to the shadow play in Xi'an's Datangxi Market, and it feels average.
As an ancient art, you won't be disappointed if you come here to see shadow puppetry.
This is a recommended place to experience the town’s cultural heritage. There are performances every hour.
The show was a loop, but there were still a lot of people. I stood outside the door and listened to one show. If you are interested, you can wait in advance to reserve a seat.
The shadow puppetry theater in Wuzhen Dongzha inherits traditional Chinese culture. It is located next to Hanlin House and the shadow puppetry performances are still performed every day.
Wuzhen's shadow puppetry is very famous. You need to reserve a seat half an hour in advance to watch the show.
It takes about half an hour to perform a play. It is relatively simple, but the old men who perform shadow puppetry are very interesting.
Ten minutes per show, and five minutes per show, very fast~~~
Traditional art is worth seeing and won’t take up too much time.
I have loved shadow puppetry since I was a child, and I can learn more about it in this exhibition hall.
Wuzhen shadow puppetry has retained its original essence. Each puppet is supported by at least five bamboo sticks. The performers must not only be flexible with their hands, but also rap with their mouths and nimble with their feet, even playing the foot drum. Truly a multi-talented individual. The shadow puppetry screen is made of a one-square-meter piece of white gauze. During the performance, several people methodically operate the puppets before this narrow piece of gauze. This level of rapport is impossible without long-term training. Shadow puppetry has been shown abroad numerous times and is deeply loved, earning it the affectionate nickname "One-Pack-Carrying Art."
I was the only audience member when I went there, but I still watched the whole show.
Just take a look at it, it won't be a big pity if you miss it.
The shadow play was very short and was performed in the local language. To be honest, I didn't understand a word, but it was still very interesting.
It shows the history of shadow puppetry, which is quite interesting. There are many shadow puppetry props.
Nowadays, there are fewer and fewer shadow puppetry craftsmen.
The cost is included in the outside ticket, but it is often crowded and you need to find a seat in advance.
It feels like a cultural heritage. If you like tradition, it is worth a visit. You will always feel like you are traveling through time when you come to Wuzhen.
Wuzhen's shadow puppet theater is located outside the Dongzha Scenic Area, making it easy to miss. When I visited, a shadow puppet show was in progress, and many tourists with children were seated to watch. Although I couldn't understand the singing, I could get the general meaning; it was an excerpt from Journey to the West.
Watching shadow puppetry is quite interesting. The little puppet figures are lifelike and vivid, and coupled with the lines and accompaniment, the scene feels great.
It was the intermission of the shadow play when I went there, so I regretted not being able to see it outside the Dongzha Scenic Area.
Shadow puppetry is a specialty of Jiangnan. There are various related introductions in the shadow puppetry museum, which is worth going in to see.
It was my first time to watch a real shadow play live. The veteran artists sang very hard. Although I didn’t understand what they meant, I was very moved by the enthusiastic expressions on their faces.
It rained that day, but I still managed to catch a shadow play performance, which was really great. I risked being late to watch it.
Wuzhen Shadow Play, there are many people, it is very interesting, there are performances on a regular basis, simple long benches,
The performance that day was supposedly Monkey King's Havoc in the Dragon Palace. It was short, only eight minutes, but it was a novelty. Aside from the gongs and drums, there were only two elderly puppeteers busy at work, raising concerns about the legacy of shadow puppetry. Every scene might be a lost cause.
I didn't understand the dialect performance, but this traditional performance is still worth watching, especially for parents with children. I really need to explain it. As a girl who grew up abroad, I was confused.
Outside the east side of Dongzha, next to Xiuzhen Temple, the shadow puppet show is actually quite interesting, and it has climaxes and highlights. They stay behind the scenes and perform every shadow puppet show for us seriously. After the performance, they still stay behind the scenes to quietly pack up the shadow puppets and prepare for the next one. If you think it's okay, please give them some applause at the end of their performance, even if no one applauds them.