Huzhou San Tiao is a folk art singing form with dialects of Huzhou or northern Zhejiang. It is named for its accompanying instrument – the San Tiao Ban, a percussion instrument made up of three planks. It is popular in Huzhou and Jiaxing, in the north of Zhejiang province.

Huzhou San Tiao prevailed in rural areas of Huzhou in the 1860s and expanded to Jiaxing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Guangde county of Anhui province and Yixing of Jiangsu province in the 1940s. Due to local differences and the pronunciation of performers, Huzhou San Tiao was divided into the different styles of Huzhou, Deqing, Nanxun and Tongxiang.

There are two performing forms of Huzhou San Tiao - single and double. In single form, the performer sings and accompanies himself with San Tiao Ban. In double form, a lead singer sings and plays the San Tiao Ban, while a second person accompanies him on flat drum or board drum.

Wuxing district, Deqing county in Huzhou and Tongxiang in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province have established inheriting bases, with provincial inheritors responsible for teaching and school popularization.

Wen Yongquan, inheritor of Huzhou San Tiao from Deqing town in Huzhou, performs in a workshop in Huzhou on Nov 4, 2015. [Photo/IC]