Shandong province's Qingdao Grant Theatre, in the city of Qingdao, put on two shows, on Oct 14 -- "Back to the Wife's Home" by the Taiyuan City Museum of Mass Art, and "Hai Ying and Her Mothers", from the Lucheng Cultural Center -- marking the beginning of Shanxi's entry into competition for the Qunxing Award, as part of the 10th China Arts Festival. Shanxi had 18 mass culture programs covering dance, drama, music, and folk arts taking part.

Zhang Jian, deputy director of the provincial Culture Department, says that some of the programs are adaptations of true stories of good deeds and reflect grassroots culture and the spirit of the "Qunxing" Awards. There were 353 finalists from across the country, with Shanxi accounting for a goodly number of them, indicating the development of its mass culture and art.

Liu Yuning, curator of the City Museum of Mass Art, in the city of Taiyuan, believes that the most creative programs reflect real life, enliven mass culture, and both preserve and develop culture.

Edited by Roger Bradshaw