Puxian Opera, originally known as Xinghua Opera, is one of the oldest surviving opera genres in China. It emerged as Xinghua Zaju during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) in Putian of East China's Fujian province, blending singing, dancing, and spoken dialogue under the influence of contemporary zaju (an opera genre).

In the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), it absorbed vocal styles from Kunshan, East China's Jiangsu province and Yiyang, East China's Jiangxi province, forming the distinctive Xinghua qiang (a regional vocal style). It was officially renamed Puxian Opera in 1954 and remains popular in Putian, as well as in the Xinghua dialect-speaking areas of Minzhong (central Fujian) and Minnan (southern Fujian).

More than 5,000 traditional plays have been preserved, such as Wang Kui, which retains elements of Southern Opera. Mulian plays, performed over seven consecutive days, reflect early performance forms of Chinese opera.

The performance system preserves distinctive local features such as "snake steps" and "sparrow jumps", along with movements with traces of puppet plays. The vocal system follows the qupaiti, the musical structure of Chinese opera. It contains over 1,000 qupai (melody patterns) and 300 luogujing (percussion patterns).

Rooted in folk traditions, Puxian Opera is regarded as a "living fossil" for studying ancient Chinese opera. It also influences local customs, language, and the arts across Putian and particularly in its cultural heartland – Xianyou county.

Since the 21st century, talent loss has posed serious threats to the opera's survival. In addition, traditional performance skills, face painting, costumes, and vocal styles are being assimilated by other operas and artistic forms. Puxian Opera now faces the risk of extinction and is in urgent need of preservation.