The troupe was originally founded 76 years ago by 24 blind artists, and its members performed much like the minstrels and traveling storytellers of the time.

"It was the Communist Party of China that liberated us from the old ways. We should repay the Party's kindness and contribute to its work," troupe member Bai Lu said. "The early founders often told us that although we were unable to see, we could speak, so we could also act as Party messengers and perform stories about its policies for the people."

Supported by government subsidies, the troupe has spent the last three-quarters of a century helping the county government communicate with residents, who are spread across a vast, mountainous area.

The dozens of performers who are part of the troupe are all local, so they know the most effective way to get the government's messages across.

During its existence, the troupe has faithfully presented the Party's line, principles and policies across an area of 1,700 square kilometers in Lingchuan, and has brought vigor to the cultural life of mountain villages.

They have devised an estimated 15,000 programs, staged 120,000 performances, covered more than 400,000 km and reached an audience of 25 million.