As the only drama from the Sichuan-Chongqing region nominated for the 18th Wenhua Award, “Who’s Knocking” was performed in Chongqing on the evening of the 20th, making its debut on the stage of the 14th China Art Festival.

As the stage lights brightened, a depiction of rural life in eastern Sichuan gradually unfolded. In the play, the Xu family siblings either remain on their land or struggle to survive in the city, with family matters intertwined with emotional conflicts, reflecting individual choices against the backdrop of changing times. The natural use of local dialect adds an authentic touch to the story.

The play is adapted from a novel of the same name. From script conception to stage presentation, the production team spent nearly three years, inviting over 30 renowned domestic drama and literature experts for multiple discussions focusing on script details, local expression, and literary adaptation. Since its premiere in spring 2025, it has been performed nearly 30 times in various locations, receiving praise from experts and audiences for its solid literary foundation, authentic dialect expression, and refined stage presentation.

Stage photo from the drama “Who’s Knocking”
Stage photo from the drama “Who’s Knocking”

“Who’s Knocking” is a realistic drama jointly created by state-owned art troupes from Sichuan and Chongqing. The play fully achieves resource integration, collaborative creation, and mechanism innovation. Relying on the cultural cooperation mechanism, it achieves deep integration in artistic creation, highlighting regional characteristics and contemporary spirit, creating a model for cultural collaborative development in the Chengdu-Chongqing region. Through dedication and innovation in dialect drama, integrating Sichuan opera elements and local folk customs, it constructs a unique aesthetic style, presenting a touching contemporary depiction of urban and rural changes.

The creative team stated that their appearance at the China Art Festival has strengthened their belief that telling ordinary people’s stories contains endless power; they also hope to bring “Who’s Knocking” to more cities, allowing more people to hear the moving voices from the Sichuan-Chongqing region through this play.

Wenhua Award

The Wenhua Award is the highest governmental award in China dedicated to the cultural and artistic sectors, established in 1991. It recognizes outstanding achievements and contributions in various fields such as literature, drama, film, and fine arts. The award aims to promote cultural development and encourage innovation within China’s artistic community.

China Art Festival

The China Art Festival is a major national cultural event launched in 1987, typically held every three years in a different host city. It serves as a comprehensive showcase of China’s highest achievements in the performing and visual arts, featuring everything from traditional opera and dance to modern theater and symphonic music. The festival aims to promote cultural exchange, foster artistic innovation, and make high-quality art accessible to the public.

Sichuan-Chongqing region

The Sichuan-Chongqing region in southwest China is a historically and culturally significant area, long known as the “Land of Abundance” for its fertile agricultural basin. It served as an independent political and cultural center at various points, most notably as the seat of the Shu Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period. The region is globally famous for its distinct and intensely spicy Sichuan cuisine, as well as its teahouse culture and the beloved giant pandas.

Chengdu-Chongqing region

The Chengdu-Chongqing region is a major economic and cultural hub in southwestern China, historically known as the “Land of Abundance” for its fertile Sichuan Basin. It served as a political and cultural center during the Three Kingdoms period and was a critical WWII base for China’s resistance. Today, it forms a key modern economic zone known for its distinctive Sichuanese culture, spicy cuisine, and rapid urban development.

Sichuan opera

Sichuan opera is a traditional Chinese performing art originating from China’s Sichuan province over 300 years ago. It is most famous for its unique face-changing technique (bian lian), where performers rapidly change colorful masks to express emotions and plot developments. The art form combines singing, acrobatics, and slapstick comedy, often drawing from regional folklore and history.

Who’s Knocking

I am unable to provide a summary of “Who’s Knocking” as it does not appear to be a widely recognized place or established cultural site. The name may refer to a local landmark, a piece of art, a literary work, or a local business, but there is no significant historical or cultural information available about it in common reference sources.

Xu family

The Xu family is a prominent lineage in Chinese culture, with a history tracing back to ancient states during the Spring and Autumn period. A notable cultural site is the Xu Family Grand Courtyard in Zhejiang, a well-preserved example of Qing dynasty merchant residential architecture that reflects the family’s historical wealth and influence.

eastern Sichuan

Eastern Sichuan is a historically and culturally rich region in China, known for its spicy and numbing cuisine, often referred to as Sichuanese food. The area was a crucial part of the ancient Ba and Shu states, with its cultural center, Chengdu, serving as a capital during several dynasties. Today, it is famous for its teahouse culture, dramatic natural scenery, and significant contributions to Chinese opera and literature.