Volunteers from Jiangsu province's ballad singers association gave performances in Tongzhou district, Nantong, Jiangsu province on Jan 9, expressing warm blessings for the upcoming Year of the Rat.

A total of 10 performances involving drum songs, comic dialogues, comic skits, and more, were put together jointly by the volunteers and local performers. The performances were highly praised by the audience.

Similar performances given by art and cultural volunteer teams are being organized in different provinces around the country, initiated by the central departments for the entertainment of the public.

Two volunteers from Jiangsu province's ballad singers association perform a comic dialogue in Tongzhou district as the Spring Festival approaches. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

In addition, calligraphers in Tongzhou district wrote couplets and the Chinese character fu, which means happiness and good luck, and sent them to locals. The image of the rat was also integrated with the calligraphy works.