Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Yan Xiaotian) news: As the lights come on behind the screen, figures carved from cowhide dance and leap on the fabric. Li Wei, with just three thin bamboo sticks in hand, flicks her wrist and makes the shadow puppets brandish a spear and perform a somersault. In front of the screen, the audience holds its breath, as if being transported to another world.

On May 17, 2025, at the Changji Youxi Gaiwan Tea Shadow Puppet Theatre, Li Wei’s performances of "Wu Song Fights the Tiger" and "Journey to the West" were met with continuous laughter and applause.

This is a typical scene at the theatre. Li is not only the manager here but also a guardian of the shadow puppet tradition. Eleven years ago, when she first saw a shadow puppet performance, she was immediately captivated by this ancient art. "Something over 2,000 years old can still be so vivid," she marveled.

Photo shows Li Wei rehearses plays backstage. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/Yan Xiaotian)

Shadow puppetry is often referred to as "the earliest form of animation." Figures carved from cowhide tell stories under the illumination of light. At its peak, it was an entertainment that drew crowds. Li recalled that when she first started learning shadow puppetry, many people asked her, "Why learn this?" Her answer was simple，"Because it's interesting."

The learning process, however, was anything but easy. Carving the shadow puppets was the first major challenge. Cowhide is tough, and a slight slip with the knife could cut one’s finger. Li Wei showed her palms, where a few small scars remain at the base of her thumbs.

"The first cut tells you if you'll make it," she said. Carving shadow puppets requires both strength and patience. Every detail, from the characters' eyebrows and eyes to their clothing patterns, must be carefully carved. One mistake can ruin the entire piece.

Manipulating the shadow puppets is even more difficult. If the bamboo sticks are not positioned just right, the puppets won't move correctly. Li once spent months perfecting a simple turning movement. "There's no 'take two' in shadow puppetry. If it's wrong, it's wrong."

Last year, she decided to open a shadow puppet theatre. Her family pooled money to support her, relatives provided materials, and the Changji Municipal Cultural Tourism Industry Association offered guidance. From nothing, the theatre came to life. At its busiest, Li and her partner performed over 30 shows a day, leaving them with sore waists and legs. But even with only one audience, they performed with all their energy.

To make shadow puppetry more appealing to the younger generation, she experimented with adding modern elements. In the traditional play “Wu Song Fights the Tiger,” she designed more exaggerated fighting moves for the character. Sometimes she even performed modern stories using shadow puppets. After one performance, a little boy ran up and asked, "Sister, can you teach me how to do it?" Li smiled, knowing that another seed of shadow puppetry had been planted.

The challenges never ceased. Some people thought shadow puppetry was an "old-fashioned relic," while others associated it only with weddings and funerals. Li once had audience members leave halfway through a performance, but she stuck to one principle: as long as someone walked in the door, she would perform wholeheartedly. "Passion is infectious," she said.

Where does the future of shadow puppetry lie? Li's answer is clear: to preserve the tradition while innovating and keeping pace with the times.

"The old artists have kept shadow puppetry alive; now it's our turn to pass it on and move it forward," she said. She has developed shadow puppet-themed cultural and creative products, turning carved figures into bookmarks and pendants. She also hopes to bring shadow puppetry into communities and schools, so that children can experience this art form firsthand.

Photo shows the shadow puppet character "Princess Pomegranate" created by Li Wei. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/Yan Xiaotian)

As night deepened and the performance ended, the audience left and the theatre lights went out. Li tidied up the shadow puppet box, and the cowhide figures rustled softly as they were stacked together. She said that shadow puppetry is like a movie that has spanned a thousand years. "It shouldn't disappear into silence."

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