Wenzhou Guci, originated in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, is one of the biggest kinds of folk musical art in southern Zhejiang. Every Wenzhou people, whether you are a man or woman, young or old, should be interested in Guci. No matter in the streets, lanes or schools, you can find out the traces of Guci. What charm does it have? In this video, let's follow Percy, a foreign anchor of Wenzhou Overseas Media Center, to explore the Wenzhou Guci!

The performers sing folk tales and historical stories in local dialect, and the tunes are simple but melodious. How fascinating they are! Percy, who has lived in Wenzhou for more than ten years, has always heard this riveting tune on Wenzhou’s streets and lanes, and his love for music has naturally led him to arouse interest in this art form which has a strong local characteristics. When he was told that Wenzhou Experimental Primary School has a club dedicated to learning Wenzhou Guci, Percy came there to learn it with Miss Zhou Xiaoqiu and the children.

Afterwards, Percy went to Huagai Guci Theatre in Wenzhou downtown to visit the famous Wenzhou Guci master Chen Zhongda (winner of the Chinese Opera Peony Award and inheritor of national intangible cultural heritage) who gives regular performances here. Seeing foreign friends singing Guci in authentic Wenzhou dialect, the audience at the scene gave their thumbs-up to Percy. The brilliant Wenzhou culture are well reproduced in the singing of Wenzhou dialect.

Expanded Reading:

Wenzhou Guci, originated in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, is one of the biggest kinds of folk musical art in southern Zhejiang. In 2006, Wenzhou Guci was approved by the State Council to be included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list.