A bamboo hobbyhorse is a simple toy. It used to be (广泛地) seen, especially in some rural areas in China. But another bamboo hobbyhorse is a folk art and it is one of China's (国家的) treasures. UNESCO (列入名单) it as an intangible cultural heritage item(非物质文化遗产项目) in 2009.
Bamboo hobbyhorse is a kind of horse-shaped prop(道具). It is made of bamboo, cloth, and paper. Performers usually (捆,系) it around the body when dancing.
Bamboo hobbyhorse is very popular in Guanyintang village, Shandong province. Hobbyhorse performances in this village usually tell (生动的) historical stories. The performers wear costumes in different colors. The main role usually wears a black costume and rides a black horse. Other performers wear white, yellow, (粉红色) and red to show that they are acting as different characters. They change formations(队形) with beating of drums and gongs—a kind of (音乐的) instrument in Southeast Asia.
Bamboo hobbyhorse performances (要求) lots of strength and energy. Zhang Baoxian, 90 years old, is a (大师,能手) of this traditional art. Now he is too old to run the horse, but he still helps the younger performers. Wang Zhenmin, the (领导) in this group, is one of Zhang's students. He said, "We want to pass this traditional art on through our love and work."
