Villagers rehearsed Yangxi Opera in Gulong village, Guizhou on Feb 3, to welcome the Chinese New Year, which is just around the corner.

Yangxi Opera is one of the Nuoxi operas that originated in Southwest China and are normally performed by artists to pay respects to ancestors. Performers are dressed up with unique costumes and wear distinctive masks to represent characters in legendary tales.

Popular among local residents, the opera has been passed down from generation to generation for 600 years. It is listed as one of the provincial intangible cultural heritages.

Villagers of Gulong village in Qiannan Bouyei and Miao autonomous prefecture rehearse the Yangxi Opera for the upcoming Chinese New Year on Feb 3. [Photo by Yi Shengwu/Xinhua]