Fengyang Flower-drum Opera is one of the Fengyang Three Flowers. Just because it originated in the town of Changhuaiwei, it is also called the Wei-tuned Flower-drum Opera.

In the middle of the Qing Dynasty, a tune, which was popular in Changhuanwei, was often taken as the main tune in the performance of Flower-drum Opera. Later, the artists learned from Sizhou and other operas and created Flower-drum Opera in the period of Guangxu.

The Flower-drum Opera was at first for spare-time occupation. Before the liberation, all the performers were men and its melodies were greatly confined. Since the foundation of the People's Republic of China, the country government has tried to save the opera and organized Fengyang Flower-drum Opera Troupe. They began to have actresses and created the Happiness of the Whole Family. Dong Biwu, one of the leaders of the country, appreciated it sang highly of it.

The Flower-drum Lantern originated and is popular in the middle reaches of Huaihe River. It is an outstanding folk art and once Premier Zhou Enlai sang highly of it as “Oriental Ballet”.

It originated in Song Dynasty and became popular in the early period of Qing Dynasty. It is a representative of Chinese folk dances. Its vigorous and racy style is very popular with the people along the middle reaches of Huaihe River. Because Huaihe River lies between Huanghe River and the Yangtze River, the Flower-drum Lantern enjoys the artistic styles of both the North and the South. It is a reflection of the folk's characters and images.

Its male player, with his vigorous movements, is called “the drum-shelf” and is good at somersaults. The actress, also called “cymbidium”, sings and dances with handkerchiefs, fans and umbrellas. At night, they usually perform on the lantern-lit squares in the countryside. So it has got the name “the Flower-drum Lantern”.

The dance has big and small performances. The big ones are performed by “drum-shelf” and “cymbidium”. The umbrella dance is followed by group dancing. In the small ones, two or three players will scramble for the handkerchiefs and benches. The leading performance has no fixed form. The player may dance or sing, or dance and sing. It can reflect the performer's emotions and psychology.

The Flower-drum Lantern is a kind of dance that is particular about skills. Its plate drum can best show this. The plate drum has three types: upper, middle and lower ones. The artists have developed their own features and special skills. The most famous artists include Shi Jingli (also nicknamed “Shi Monkey”) and Hong Yun (also nicknamed “Little Waterboy”) from Huaiyuan, Wu Peixuan (also nicknamed “Unrivalled Monkey”) from Fengtai. From their stage names, people can see their incomparable performing skills.

The music is the soul and fatal part of the Flower-drum Lantern. The drums, gongs and lantern songs enjoy unique artistic values. Its style is the reflection of the folk's characters along the river: simple, vigorous, open-minded and optimistic. Such characters are interwoven into the various aspects of the art.

Fengyang, a common county in Anhui Province, has several uncommon things. One of them can show Fengyangnese's best skills——Fengyang Flower-drum. It is a unique traditional art and exerts significant influence over the whole country.

Joy and sorrow mingle at its origin. It ia also called Double-sticked Drum. Its earliest performance was by two sisters-in-law: one beat the drum; the other beat the gong and sang. All the songs were about people's sad life. In the past, Fengyang was often stricken by droughts and floods. Many people were forced to leave their homes and went begging by performing Flower-drum. Hence, Fengyang Flower-drum has become a symbol of poverty.

Since the open and reform of China, the form and contents of the art have greatly changed. Its existence is mainly for people's self-enjoyment. The singing is more popular both in the urban and countryside. Fengyangnese will always perform it enthusiastically to celebrate their happy events or to welcome their guests. Modern skills have been absorbed into the art. With its local flavor and more varieties, Fengyang Flower-drum is becoming more and more popular. In the recent years, the troupes have performed both at home and abroad and won many prizes.