A puppet show is performed in North Jeolla Province. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

A photo taken 26 years ago records a cultural exchange between China and South Korea, with the front row featuring smiling South Korean children and the back row featuring Chinese performers holding puppets.

The photo depicts the first cultural exchange between Jiangsu and North Jeolla Province, South Korea, four years after they forged friendly relations in 1994. Shen Zhen, then deputy director of the cultural bureau of Rugao in Nantong, led a cultural delegation to North Jeolla Province at that time.

Although the chance to perform in another country thrilled every member of the Rugao puppet art troupe, they immediately began rehearsing their shows once they arrived in the hotel.

Puppet show performers take a photo during their visit in North Jeolla Province. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Before the performance, Shen was worried that South Korean children would struggle to understand the shows because of the language barrier, but the loud applause, cheers, and attentive looks on the faces of the audience members reassured Shen. To his surprise, when the performers stepped off the stage, local children were eager to take photos with the small puppets.

Due to the positive reception in South Korea, Shen became convinced that Chinese culture and history would be popular among the international community and that he, as a Nantong native, should Chinese stories to the world through the city's special puppet shows.

With a history of over 300 years, Rugao puppet shows have been under national protection since 1978. The puppet shows have been being practiced for eight generations, and many of the shows have earned both national and international awards.