As well as the cultural entertainment options listed, Xi'an also has a fairly lively nightlife scene; the best place to sample this is Defuxiang Bar Street (Defuxiang Jiuba Jie), northwest of Nan Men, where there are plenty of different bars to choose from.
The Performing Arts
Two companies perform Tang-style banquets and musicals to entertain visitors. The competition for the group-tour dollar is fierce.
Chinese Shadows -- Piying was the staple entertainment of rural Shanxi before karaoke. Puppets are carved from leather and dyed dazzling colors -- many date from the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). There are over 600 different plays, ranging from legends to love stories to kung-fu epics. Unlike opera, this is loud, irreverent entertainment for the masses. This art will probably die out in Shanxi; its main exponent is a septuagenarian, and his only student is a few years younger. It takes 10 years to learn the craft, and for most, driving a taxi is a more appealing option. For now, the puppet troupe (Shanxi Hu Xian Piying Yishutuan) also performs at Dongfang Dajiudian.
