On a canal-side square one performer stands on one leg atop a pole on a trestle, spinning four plates on sticks, while another balances six bowls on his head; a covered boat and boatman lie behind, with onlookers at both sides, and at the left are a basket of plates, a jar of thin sticks, blue-and-white bowls and a wheelbarrow.
Wuqiao Acrobatics
The acrobatic tradition of Wuqiao in Hebei, on the first national list of intangible heritage items in 2006
Introduction
Acrobatics of Wuqiao County, Cangzhou, Hebei: item Ⅵ-1, entered in 2006 in the first batch of the national representative list of intangible cultural heritage, with the Wuqiao County Acrobatics Troupe as protecting unit. Its traditional repertoire has 7 major categories and 486 individual items: body skills, prop skills, disguise and imitation of animals, animal training, horsemanship, traditional magic, and comedy. The China Wuqiao International Acrobatics Art Festival was founded in 1987 and is held every two years; its 20th edition opened in Wuqiao in 2025.