Xiaogan's unique storytelling tradition

A performer tells stories from a hanging platform. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Xiaogang town in Xiaonan district, Xiaogan, is home to a captivating cultural tradition known as "storytelling on a hanging platform".

This unique art form, deeply rooted in the community's aspirations to seek blessings from the heavens, has been passed down through generations and continues to enchant audiences with its distinctive blend of performance and storytelling.

The tradition involves performers — often children — who are secured to household tables or specially crafted platforms. These performers re-enact historical tales while being carried by four people, creating a mesmerizing spectacle of suspended animation.

Positioned on the platforms, the performers bring scenes and characters to life with expressive hand movements, while their feet remain still, embodying a living tableau of historical narratives.

The tradition also features a variation known as "telling stories on suspended platforms", where performers are safely secured to custom iron and wood frames, allowing them to perform in mid-air.

A performer narrates stories in mid-air. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]