In Northeast China, Gaoqiao in southern Liaoning Province is the most famous. It has developed a standard form, which dictates that first performers must "Daxiang," which means to stand on each other's shoulders and do a yangko dance, before changing formation. Finally, they perform in groups, with activities like pair dancing, "catching butterflies," "fishing," and performing small local operas.

Gaoqiao performers typically wear traditional clothing of their ethnic groups. The Bouyei ethnic group uses both single and double stilts, while the Bai ethnic group performers dress like horses during "Gaoqiao Shuama" shows. The Uygur ethnic group's "Two-Person Gaoqiao" mixes in local dances.

Traditional Customs

In ancient China, a queue of stilt-walking performers passed through the streets every January for the celebration of Chinese New Year. There were usually a dozen performers in a group, dressed in theatrical costumes and accompanied by traditional music. The group began with "Kailu Gun," the starter, and was then followed by familiar mythological characters. The event was organized spontaneously and would start rehearsing January 11-12 of the Chinese lunar calendar, and was officially performed during January 15-18. Shops would set up tables with tea and dim sum as a gift to the performers.

Carrying Sedan Chairs

Tai Huajiao, or carrying sedan chairs, became a popular folk dance during the middle period of the Republic of China (1912-1949). The performer who sits in the sedan chair is usually dressed as an ugly county magistrate with a black gauze cap or as a beautiful woman played by a man in ancient costume, with a handkerchief in hand. Four sedan-chair bearers are also played by "choujue," or comic roles in traditional opera. The sedan chair used is a wooden one without a bottom, decorated by the red and green silk cloth. The performer sits in the chair and dances to the folk music.

By  intern Wang Yuna and Huang Yixin

All rights reserved. Reproduction of text for non-commercial purposes is permitted provided that both the source and author are acknowledged and a notifying email is sent to us.