The legendary folk tale of Liu Sanjie, a well-known folk singer from the Zhuang ethnic group, is the first to ever appear on stage.

In 1959, during a national movement to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the founding of New China, nearly 100 theater troupes in Guangxi, including amateur groups, staged various performances of Liu Sanjie using Caidiao Opera, Guiju Opera, and Zhuang Opera.

The 1961 film version of Liu Sanjie became a nationwide sensation, with actress Huang Wanqiu giving an impressive portrayal of the titular character.

The poster of film Liu Sanjie. [Photo/WeChat account: guilinfestival]