Folk art finds right balance

"The dance might be plain and repetitive to an onlooker unfamiliar with our culture, but it embodies a whole set of profound and intricate knowledge," he said.

Wang said most beigun themes stem from traditional Chinese myths, legends and theater arts.

"The robes, headgear and makeup of children are meticulously selected to fit the context of the performance, ranging from a nostalgic episode in A Dream of Red Mansions to a joyful tale inspired by The Journey to the West," he said.

"Through their gestures and facial expressions, these young performers can convey a variety of emotions to tell different stories."

In 2017, beigun was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage.

"Thanks to hundreds of years of effort by local folk artists, beigun has now established itself as a unique type of performance that incorporates the narrative of theater, the agility of dance, the breathtaking coordination of acrobatics, and the multicolored nature of painting," Wang said.

Zhang Shuping, deputy director of the county's culture department, said beigun is no longer an annual performance exclusive to Chinese New Year.

"Nowadays, we look forward to enjoying beigun performances during any festival or national holiday," she said.

"With the implementation of the rural revitalization strategy and the boom in rural tourism in recent years, more and more city dwellers have visited Qingxu, and beigun is now able to reach a wider audience."