Xiaba town, Guiyang, is home to a 500-year-old provincial intangible cultural heritage - the Flower Stick Dance.

Originating from the stick techniques used for self-defense during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the dance was initially used to ward off beasts, pray for good fortune, and honor ancestors. Over time, it has evolved into a collective folk dance that combines martial arts and the beauty of dance. In 2007, it was listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage.

The Flower Stick Dance. [Photo/WeChat account of Wudang district]

Flower sticks are rich in folk symbolism. Craftsmen select and cut fine bamboo from the mountains, which is then sun-dried and wind-dried before being cut into a standard one-meter stick. The stick is meticulously polished until smooth and then painted in three colors: red for celebration, yellow for harvest, and green for safety. After being air-dried, holes are drilled, and the ends are wrapped with red and yellow threads and adorned with bells. In ancient times, the sound of bells was used to ward off wild animals; today, the tinkling of bells has become the unique rhythm of the flower stick dance.

Performances typically involve an even number of dancers, with four people per group, dressed in traditional costumes embroidered with Miao ethnic patterns. Nowadays, visitors to Xiaba can watch complete Flower Stick Dance performances and observe the handmade production of flower sticks up close. The local community has also adapted the flower stick dance into school exercises, helping to preserve this ancient art.