The Quanzhou International Puppet Festival is launched on Dec 12. [Photo provided to enquanzhou.com]

The Quanzhou International Puppet Festival was launched on Dec 12 at the Confucius Temple in Quanzhou. Leaders, experts, and scholars gathered with artists from nine countries and regions to witness the international celebration of puppet art.

Following the launch ceremony, puppet troupes from all over the world delivered brilliant performances, bringing new vitality to the ancient puppet art.

As an important part of the 2025 Maritime Silk Road International Cultural Tourism Festival, this year's  event is the largest to date, with over 500 puppet artists from 38 global troupes participating.

Various events, including the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) pop-up exhibitions and Chinese and international puppet performances, have also been held at shopping malls, scenic areas, schools, and parks, offering a professional stage for artists to showcase their talents.

A Chinese artist interacts with an artist from the Ivory Coast. [Photo provided to enquanzhou.com]

Artists show the string puppets at the event. [Photo provided to enquanzhou.com]

An artist performs with hand puppets. [Photo provided to enquanzhou.com]

Quanzhou, the first city in China to host an international puppet festival, is praised as the "hometown of puppet art". It has preserved over 700 traditional sets and more than 300 scores, maintaining a unique and enduring style while playing a crucial role in international cultural exchanges.