Shadow play (Hehuang shadow play), the traditional drama of Qinghai province, one of the national intangible cultural heritage. Hehuang shadow play formed in the Ming and Qing dynasties, in the long-term development process formed some inherent characteristics, it has an independent, mature board cavity body voice system.

Qinghai Xianxiao, due to the circulation of different regions, singing style, tunes have their own characteristics, respectively with the name of the place called "Xining Xianxiao", "Hezhou Xianxiao", "Liangzhou Xianxiao" and so on. Popular in the Huangshui basin of eastern Qinghai is mainly "Xining Xianxiao".

皮影戏（河湟皮影戏），青海省传统戏剧，国家级非物质文化遗产之一。河湟皮影戏形成于明清时期，在长期的发展过程中形成了一些固有的特征，它有独立、成熟的板腔体声腔体系。

青海贤孝，由于流传地区不同，演唱方式、曲调各有特色，分别冠以地名称为“西宁贤孝”、“河州贤孝”、“凉州贤孝”等。流行于青海东部湟水流域各地的主要是“西宁贤孝”。