A perfect balancing act

"From toddlers to centenarians, everyone in Wuqiao can perform acrobatics, and everyone has a signature skill."

This popular saying in Wuqiao county, Cangzhou city, Hebei province, reflects the area's rich acrobatic heritage spanning more than 2,000 years.

Located in southeastern Hebei, Wuqiao has long contended with saline-alkaline soil and limited agricultural resources. Yet, it gave rise to one of China's most enduring folk art traditions. Wuqiao acrobatics traces its roots to the ancient "Chiyou Xi", or "Jiao Di Xi" (horned wrestling), and gradually developed into a diverse performance tradition encompassing physical feats, animal acts and magic.