(Photo provided to Xinhua Daily)

The 9th China Suzhou Pingtan Art Festival, organized by the China Quyi Artists Association, opened at the Suzhou Municipal Center of Public Culture on June 3.

Suzhou Pingtan encompasses Suzhou pinghua and tanci, which involve storytelling and ballad singing in the Suzhou dialect. Established in 2000, the festival has become the largest event dedicated to this art form, renowned for its high artistic standards and extensive participation.

The new edition features 12 troupes from across the country, presenting a total of 18 performances in the festival that will run until June 10.

In addition, the performances will be held at various venues, such as school campuses, scenic spots, cultural spaces, and commercial complexes, providing more opportunities for both citizens and tourists to explore the time-honored art of Pingtan.