A local opera competition was seen at Qapqal county, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in May, 2012.

This particular opera, also known as Handuchun, has a massive following from the local Xibe ethnic group. Featuring local ethnic art elements, Xibe opera artists continue to improve on this art form by borrowing ideas from their counterparts in Northwest China, making it a new trail of China's opera art.

However, Handuchun's future is getting bleaker for a variety of reasons. Local government is trying hard to protect this unique art through intangible cultural heritage programs, such as education and competitions.

Qapqal is China's only Xibe autonomous county. Most Xibe people here emmigrated from Northeast China's Liaoning province about 200 years ago.

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Video: Zhang Xiao

Producer: Flora Yue