Siping Opera, also known as Siping xi, or Sipeng xi, originated from Yiyang qiang, a traditional opera from Yiyang county in East China's Jiangxi province. As one of the four major vocal styles of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), it rose to prominence during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty in Huizhou (now She county in East China's Anhui province), later spreading to the mountainous regions of northeastern Fujian in the late Ming (1368-1644) and early Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. It has since been preserved in its original form in the Yangyuan township of Zhenghe county and in the Longtan township of Pingnan county in Fujian province.

Traditional repertoires include The Tale of the White Rabbit and The Lute Story. Its singing follows the gaoqiang system, known for its rustic yet melodious style, with extended vocals echoing at the end of each verse. Spoken lines are delivered in tuguanhua, a vernacular blending Mandarin and local dialects. Surviving scripts indicate only stress patterns without melodic notation; vocal tunes have been passed down orally for generations.

By the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty, role categories had become well developed. Each featured a distinct performance style: refined Sheng (the main male role), delicate Dan (the female role), bold Jing (the forceful male character), and humorous Chou (the male clown). Movements follow drum rhythms and are guided by rhymed chants. Performances are led by drums, accompanied by cymbals and clappers, preserving the Yiyang qiang tradition in which one leading voice is echoed by many in unison.

Siping Opera is regarded as a "living fossil" of the vocal arts in the Ming Dynasty. Yet today, due to geographic isolation and economic challenges, it is now facing a survival crisis. Urgent preservation is needed.