Suzhou Pingtan is a regional variety of art form popular in the Jiangnan Region. It is a combination of "Pinghua" and "Tanci" which are two forms of Chinese narrative musical tradition. With a history of 400 years, Suzhou Pingtan is praised as the most beautiful voice of China. Pinghua just talk and Tanci will talk and sing. Pinghua is usually performed by one actor on the stage, who told story of vicissitude of the history or the brave deeds of some chivalrous heroes. Tanci is storytelling and singing by two performers (one carrying a three-stringed lute and the other the traditional Chinese musical instrument Pipa). They paly and sing the songs, more about love legends and folk tales. Suzhou "Pinghua" and "Tanci" are famous for their exquisite storytelling and singing, and their soft and beautiful Suzhou dialect; the performances are often interspersed with some jokes to make them more funny and enjoyable. Suzhou Tanci is performed in Wu music, which is slow, emphatic and very sweet. Suzhou Pingtan is often performed solo, in duet or as a trio. The performers will play and sing. The musical instruments they use are three-stringed lute and Pipa.
Inheritors of National Intangible Cultural Heritage Suzhou Pingtan: Lisheng Jin, Yanzhi Xing, Yanchun Xing.
