Taiyuan Traditional Folk Performance: Fenghuoliuxing

Fenghuoliuxing is a traditional folklore performance in Taiyuan, which integrates the essence of acrobatics and martial arts. Originated in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, it boasts a long history of over one century. 

Fenghuoliuxing performance [Photo via the Publicity Department of the CPC Taiyuan Municipal Committee]

Usually performed at night, Fenghuoliuxing can be performed by one or more people. Through acrobatic techniques, the performers make the iron cage at both ends of the rope rotate in the air from slow to fast, with sparks splashing in the cage, forming various streams of colorful patterns. The performers can also do a variety of movements such as walking, standing, sitting, lying down, rolling, etc. The scene is thrilling and magnificent. The performance routine is roughly similar to that of the martial arts, which is set to music by small gongs and drums, and the performers change their movements with the sound of different drums and music, sometimes compact, sometimes slow, sometimes high, sometimes low, which is really exciting.

Fenghuoliuxing performance [Photo via the Publicity Department of the CPC Taiyuan Municipal Committee]

Fenghuoliuxing has always been the highlight of the Lantern Festival and Shehuo, a spontaneous traditional festive occasion for songs and dances prevailing mainly in the countryside of North China, on which people dance with fire, the festival and the scene blend together. The event atmosphere will be instantly pushed to the climax with the fire dragon made by the performers coming out. In 2008, it was rated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage Project.