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In the heart of Fengdu, southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality, wooden stick puppetry isn’t just art—it’s a living story. Meet Zhang Jing, a third-generation inheritor of this century-old craft, recognized as a county-level intangible cultural heritage. Her intricate puppets, carved with precision and animated by bamboo sticks, breathe life into folklore and history.
'Every puppet has a soul,' says Zhang, whose family has kept the tradition alive since the 1920s. Today, she leads a team of artisans blending tradition with modern storytelling, staging shows in Fengdu’s famed 'Ghost City'—a cultural hub where myths and reality collide.
Audiences are mesmerized by performances that blend humor, drama, and eerie charm, reflecting the region’s unique identity. But preserving this art isn’t easy. Zhang’s workshops now teach younger generations, ensuring the puppets’ whispers of the past aren’t drowned out by the digital age.
For travelers and culture enthusiasts, Fengdu’s puppetry offers a rare glimpse into China’s lesser-known creative treasures. As Zhang puts it: 'The sticks may be wooden, but the stories? They’re eternal.'
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Meet Zhang Jing, a third-generation inheritor of this century-old craft, recognized as a county-level intangible cultural heritage. Her intricate puppets, carved with precision and animated by bamboo sticks, breathe life into folklore and history.
'Every puppet has a soul,' says Zhang, whose family has kept the tradition alive since the 1920s. Today, she leads a team of artisans blending tradition with modern storytelling, staging shows in Fengdu’s famed 'Ghost City'—a cultural hub where myths and reality collide.
Audiences are mesmerized by performances that blend humor, drama, and eerie charm, reflecting the region’s unique identity. But preserving this art isn’t easy. Zhang’s workshops now teach younger generations, ensuring the puppets’ whispers of the past aren’t drowned out by the digital age.
For travelers and culture enthusiasts, Fengdu’s puppetry offers a rare glimpse into China’s lesser-known creative treasures. As Zhang puts it: 'The sticks may be wooden, but the stories? They’re eternal.' 
