For my last night in Suzhou, I decided to take in a live pingtan performance. Pingtan is a traditional form of musical storytelling that combines singing, instrumental music, and spoken narrative, often performed in the Suzhou dialect. It first emerged during the Song dynasty more than 700 years ago but reached the height of its popularity in the 19th century when Shanghai audiences embraced it as a major form of entertainment.

I’d never experienced pingtan before, so I didn’t know what to expect. Two performers sat on stage with simple instruments like a pipa and a sanxian while weaving stories through song and dialogue. Even though my grasp of the Suzhou dialect is nonexistent, I could still appreciate the rhythm, the humor in the audience’s reactions, and the elegance of the music. I stayed for the entire show and left feeling like I’d witnessed something truly special.