Shadow play, which is one of the most popular folk opera with stage props in China, came into existence almost a thousand years ago . The shadow show became quite popular in the Song Dynasty when holidays were marked by the presentation of many shadow plays. It is said in Yuan Dynasty it once spread to west Asia and even as far as Europe. During the Ming Dynasty, there were 40 to 50 shadow show troupes in Beijing alone. Among the many types ,the silhouette show of donkey leather in Tangshan, Hebei Province are renowned for their exquisite cutting and distinctive folk music.

    Shadow play is a show with puppets made of donkey hide. The process for making the puppets is as follows: Sheep or donkey skin with hair removed is cleaned and treated chemically to become thin enough to be translucent. Coated with tung oil and dried, it is carved into various parts of dramatic figures. The trunk, head and limbs of a puppet are separately carved but joined together by thread so that each part may be manipulated by the operator to simulate human movements. The leather puppets are painted with various colors to show their different qualities-- kind or wicked, beautiful or ugly. Depending on the light of the lamp, the ingenious sculpted silhouette is reflected onto the screen and performers behind the scene control it to walk, dance, or do various kinds of acts by the strings connected to the joints, companied by music and songs. Except for the rich varieties and exquisite performance skills，the skin carving has achieved a high level. The shadow puppets has rarefied skin making, vivid appearance, fine cutting techniques，and beautiful pattern. For the simple style and unique elegant flavor，it can be not only used in the shadow play，but also can be seemed as a unique artworks for appreciation.

    Today, foreign tourists in China are still keen to see a performance of this ancient dramatic art, and shadow puppets are also available from certain shops as art souvenirs of the country.