Di Opera is generally staged twice a year, during the Spring Festival and the mid-July harvest season. The Di Opera performance during the Spring Festival lasts for 20 days and is called “Wu Xin Chun,” which means “celebrating the Spring Festival.” During the mid-July harvest season, the show is only put on for five days and is called “Tiao Mi Hua Shen,” which means the “sorcerer’s dance for flowering.”

Before the show, a big red flag embroidered with “帅” (general) will be set at the entrance of the village, or another place which catches the eye, to show there will be a performance in the village. The stage may be a village square or a vacant ground on the roadside and the audience usually stands around on the high land for a better view of the performance.

The masks of Di Opera are very refined and full of liveliness.

The local farmers are the players. They wear fancy wooden masks carved of wood, dress in cloth shoes, unadorned robes, drape banners on their backs and carry weapons in their hands. When performing, the players cover their faces with black gauze before placing the masks on their forehead. To the tempo of gongs and drums, the performers, wielding wood swords and folding fans, sing the ancient folk stories. Their performance is full of enthusiasm and vibrates with long, loud, resonant voices.

Most of the popular operas are based on historical battle stories, such as Wars between Chu and Han, the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the History of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, and Generals of the Yang Family. These stories have been told for hundreds of years but still remain fresh.

As much as 40 different masks will be used in each opera and in some plays the number will even pass 100

The mask is one of the most important characteristics of Di Opera. The species of wooden masks are quite abundant and each differs in character of roles. As much as 40 different masks will be used in each opera and in some plays the number will even pass 100. There are four categories of masks -- general, Taoist priest, comedian and animal.