Shanxi Jinzhong | Heshun Fengtai Operetta

The Fengtai operetta is a local operatic genre in Heshun County, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province. It is named after the Fengtai village in Heshun County, where it originated.The Fengtai operetta began to take shape around the middle period of the Qing Dynasty, with a history of over two hundred years.

The Fengtai village is situated in a remote mountainous area with inconvenient transportation , resulting in limited dissemination. It was only after the founding of the People's Republic of China that the Fengtai operetta gradually spread to other villages and towns within Heshun County.

Indicated by the titles, some tunes of the Fengtai operetta are clearly passed down from the Ming and Qing dynasties, such as “Lotus Falling”and “Silver Threads”; others are folk tunes from the Dongshan area, like “Picking Sichuan Peppers”and “Embroidering Pouches”.

The tunes of the Fengtai operetta are smooth and graceful, with a fresh style, an excellent structure, and a lively rhythm full of variation. Overall,the Fengtai operetta exudes a charm reminiscent of the picturesque scenery of lakes and mountains.

Source: Official website of Shanxi Provincial People's Government