Approximately 20 puppet troupes from over 10 countries and regions arrived in Quanzhou, Fujian province, this weekend for the fourth Quanzhou International Puppet Festival on Nov 9.

The five-day puppet festival is one of the highlights of the 14th Asia Arts Festival, held in Quanzhou from Nov 8-15.

Fifty-eight?performances in 35 different venues across the city will be held during the festival. The performances will include puppet shows in theatre,?companies, schools, residential communities and villages, giving locals an up close experience of puppetry.

Initiated in 1986, this year's festival is reported to be the largest ever held, welcoming over 300 puppetry artists from around the world, including Germany, Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Serbia, Brazil, Indonesia, New Zealand, Argentina and Taiwan.

An Indonesian puppet artist performs a show. [Photo/qzwb.com]