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Behind a translucent screen, small puppeteers are less likely to cast their own shadows on the curtain. They nimbly move flat cutout figures between a light source and the screen. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Hu Chaoyi, 33, born in Mianyang, Sichuan province, is the leader of the troupe. Because of a problem with his mother's labor at his birth, he became a pituitary dwarf, a condition that results when the body fails to produce enough growth hormone.

Hu tried a few jobs as a migrant worker after graduating from junior high school but was frustrated by his size from time to time.

In 2012, he met a friend online from the Beijing Little Ant Little People Shadow Play Art Troupe. Later, after watching a show performed by the troupe, Hu decided to learn the traditional art.

He found both a career and his later wife, Yang Suxuan, in the process. She also has dwarfism. The couple cherished each other, holding hands in public regardless of other people's attention.

In 2017, the couple moved to Chongqing to develop their own careers. In addition to performing, group members also make shadow puppets. It takes two or three weeks to finish one.

With the prevalence of movies and cartoons in the internet age, the ancient art is no longer the most popular folk activity for children. "The profits are low, but we hope to inherit and develop the intangible cultural heritage," Hu said. "I also want to take Chinese shadow plays abroad, if possible."

According to the Chinese Pediatric Society, there are about 39 million people with dwarfism in China, including 7 million aged 7 to 15.