Pingtan is a recital-style ancient Chinese art form that originated during the Ming Dynasty in Suzhou, China. It is a combination of storytelling (Tanci) and musical recital (Pinghua) in the Suzhou dialect. The singing is accompanied by a three-stringed musical instrument called the Pipa. Unlike other art forms of China that have declined over centuries, the Pingtan has sustained its popularity for more than 400 years and is still a great tourist attraction. The Suzhou Pingtan Museum showcases more than 100,000 rare ancient documents that explain the art form. The museum also has a large screen on which the old-style Pingtan performances are projected.
