The first round of China's Grand Canal Quyi (a traditional Chinese spoken and sung art form) celebrity selection activities concluded in Jining on June 14.

Quyi lovers from cultural centers along the Grand Canal gathered at Jining, presenting wonderful and diverse performances of Quyi opera and folk art styles that were warmly welcomed by local audiences.

The selection process lasted for more than three months, with over 100 contestants from Beijing, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and other regions participating. More than 2.3 million online viewers engaged in the selection and voting process.

After an evaluation by experts, as well as audience feedback and online voting, 10 folk stars including Jia Donghao and Zhang Minmin were selected as the top Quyi celebrities.

At the awards ceremony, various forms of Chinese folk art, such as fast-paced storytelling and cross-talk comedy were demonstrated and well-received by the audiences.

The hosting of this event connects various forms of traditional folk art scattered along the Grand Canal, showcasing its role as a cultural bridge.

Performers stage Quyi (a traditional Chinese spoken and sung art form) at the awards ceremony of top Quyi celebrities. [Photo/WeChat account: jnwhlyj]