The puppet animation character stages a performance for the audience, by Chu Lou Shan Puppet Troup from Taiwan. [Photo by He Keyao/Chinaculture.org]

"China has a long tradition of puppet shows and the Chinese have very strong techniques and are skilled in puppetry, which is unique," said Jacque Trudeau, secondary general of Union Internationale De La Marionette(UNIMA) of UNESCO. "Meanwhile, Chinese artists are very open minded. Through many festivals like this, I see Chinese puppetry is changing for the better."

He stresses that Chinese puppetry is faithful to its own cultural roots while absorbing skills and techniques from other countries.