Fun and healthy: Festival displays magic power of diabolo

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More than 4,700 diabolo amateurs from across the world attended an international diabolo festival in Baoding, north China's Hebei Province, as it kicked off on Monday.

Running into its tenth round, the three-day festival attracted more than 390 teams from home and abroad, including from countries such as the United States, France, Spain, the Netherlands and Canada.

A diabolo player shows his skills on stage in Baoding, north China's Hebei Province, May 6, 2019. /Photo via China News Service

The festival is scheduled to hold competitions of individual and team diabolo performances, and other events such as exchanges of the skills between players and diabolo sales exhibition.

A 25-year-old Canadian competitor named Alexander told China News Service that he spent seven years teaching himself diabolo since he accidentally discovered it online.

The 25-year-old Canadian competitor, named Alexander, plays diabolo in Baoding, North China's Hebei Province, May 6, 2019. /Photo via China News Service

A Chinese intangible cultural heritage

Diabolo, or Kong Zhu in Chinese, originated in China at least 600 years ago. The manufacturing method and playing techniques of diabolo are well recorded in the book "Dijing Jingwulue," literally "Survey of Scenery and Monuments in the Imperial Capital."

As its Chinese name suggests, Kong Zhu, literally "hollow bamboo," is traditionally made of bamboo. It consists of a short axle with a round cup on either end or two cups on both ends, and a string connecting the two hand sticks. Mouthpieces are carved in the cup(s), so that when playing it, the diabolo will whistle.

An amateur plays diabolos in Handan, North China's Hebei Province, April 29, 2018. /VCG Photo

An advanced player can play a diabolo with tricks or control several diabolos simultaneously. For artistic and entertaining effect, the folk sports equipment is also used in the circus as a juggling prop, and in turn, its techniques have further developed in diversity and difficulty.

Playing diabolo requires the coordination of one's four limbs and cooperation of team members, so it builds up one's body and brain.

Amateurs play diabolo in Handan, north China's Hebei Province, April 29, 2018. /VCG Photo

Although beneficial for health, the sport witnesses weakening popularity. In 2006, it was inscribed on China's intangible cultural heritage list.