The newly renovated Yingdong Storytelling House. [Photo/WeChat account: qdrmt513]

Yingdong Storytelling House, established in 1957, reopened its doors on Jan 2 after undergoing extensive renovations. The space now includes a brand new performance hall with seating for 70 spectators, complementing the existing second-floor auditorium, allowing for a total audience capacity of 120.

The house will host pingtan performances, an art form combining storytelling and ballads sung in the local dialect, from 1:30 to 3:30 every afternoon.

In a bid to foster community engagement, the Yingdong Storytelling House will provide classes open to the public. Chen Yan, head of the Qidong Pingtan Troupe, stated that there will be two classes per week, focusing on cultivating enthusiasts of pingtan. "Whether young or old, anyone with an interest in the art can benefit from the classes here."

On the second floor of the house, a new Qidong Pingtan Art Gallery has also been built, showcasing the development of pingtan art in Qidong since 1956.

Artists perform Qidong pingtan at the Yingdong Storytelling House. [Photo/WeChat account: qdrmt513]