As the popularity of karaoke and Internet bars has grown to dominate China's entertainment industry today – more traditional arts – some with centuries of history behind them - have begun to fade from the limelight. And a reduction in official financing for these art forms has taken its toll too.

But now, as BON's Neela Eyunni reports, some of the country's performing arts groups are taking it upon themselves to make sure they don't just become part of history.