Young cultural inheritor masters a balance between old and new

A vision of almost acrobatic grace balancing on a single bamboo pole bobbing along the river: Bamboo drifting is a form of intangible cultural heritage. And Yang Liu is one of the young inheritors of this art—single bamboo drifting.

Yang uses two bamboo poles. Usually, the one under her feet is about 9 meters long and 15 cm in diameter, and the pole in her hands is about 5 meters long and 3 cm in diameter. "If the bamboo's length or width doesn't measure up, it won't be able to stay afloat. Plus, we constantly have to fight the current by adjusting the pole's angle," Yang told Beijing Review.  

The practice of wood drifting originated during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 B.C.) as a means of transport. The city of Zunyi in the southwestern province of Guizhou was renowned for producing a particularly precious and expensive wood that was in great demand with the emperors up north. The problem was that in Guizhou they didn't have boats big enough to carry the logs, so they rewarded citizens for standing and punting on one log each to transport them to the first destination that did have adequate boats to continue the journey.

Later, locals began to compete along the way and the wood drifting "game" was born. In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), wood drifting became bamboo drifting because the latter was cheaper.

Due to the great physical strength and balance it takes for one to master this dance on water, bamboo drifting was listed as national intangible cultural heritage in July 2021. It was also included on a list for promotion and protection as an example of traditional culture, as well as part of the national physical fitness program. 

Testing the waters 

Though only 25, Yang has been building up her bamboo drifting repertoire since the age of 7. Given her tiny frame as a child, her grandmother decided to take her bamboo drifting to strengthen her body.

When bamboo floats on water, it becomes wet and slippery; maintaining one's balance is no easy feat. "When I first started practicing, I would fall into the river over and over again—climbing back onto the pole and falling back in," Yang said.

She still remembered the bitter cold of winter and the sweltering heat of summer as she would continue to practice all year round, her body still bearing the scars of the multiple tumbles she took throughout the process. "If you can't master a technique after doing it 10 times, then try another 100 times," the young woman added.

Despite bamboo having greater tensile strength (the resistance to being pulled apart) than steel, as well as the ability to withstand compression better than concrete, Yang has still gone through more than 50 bamboo poles during her many years of training, despite taking very good care of them.

After three years of practice, Yang gradually mastered the basic skill. "Bamboo drifting has been part of my growing-up and has even become my friend," Yang said.

There were a few bumps along the road to success, such as finding suitable training sites, and the financial issues of buying bamboo and other required materials. Luckily, the local government came to her aid by arranging for a fixed location where she could practice. Yang was also able to stage the occasional performance to cover her expenses.

But even in the face of challenges, her ability to float on water makes her feel like floating on air.

When the shoe fits 

Yang also shows great creativity when spreading the culture of bamboo drifting.

"Many people say that the drifting looks novel at first, but after seeing it many times they'll feel like they're just watching people paddling down a river," Yang said. Given she has also trained as a dancer since she was very young, her grandmother suggested she combine the two art forms.

Yang then started coming up with innovative ideas, infusing the traditional drifting art with typical Chinese elements. For example, she incorporated traditional ethnic dance moves to lend the overall performance a more graceful demeanor.

Of course, dancing on a single bamboo pole is hard. Yang started by raising her leg to 30 degrees, 60 degrees, 90 degrees, and higher, all the while maintaining her balance. After about three months of practice, her movements became more and more elegant and proficient. 

But then there were the wardrobe issues, such as finding the correct shoes. Most dancing shoes aren't water resistant, let alone waterproof. Wrapping plastic bags or cling wrap around the shoes both failed to keep her feet dry. However, one day, when she saw children playing with balloons, she pulled the balloons over her shoes, and it actually worked.

With the rising popularity of hanfu, or the traditional dress of the Han Chinese, Yang started dressing up in hanfu costumes for performances, creating an ethereal vintage feel. She further endowed her act with traditional ethnic music and elements of Chinese operas.

The integration of intangible cultural heritage and national culture benefits the development of both and can also inspire more young adults to learn about them. Yang's hard work, day after day, eventually resulted in their perfect combination.

In 2020, Yang registered her accounts on both Chinese and overseas social media platforms and started posting videos of her eye-catching skills. Her videos often receive millions of views and her online following has grown quickly in a short period. For example, she now has over one million followers on Douyin, China's TikTok. Through her online presence, she and bamboo drifting are known and liked by audiences worldwide.

It is the love for the ancient skill that keeps Yang going. Now, single bamboo drifting has become an inseparable part of Yang's life. "No matter how hard it is, I will try my best to keep lifting it to the next level," Yang said, adding she hopes more young adults will help protect this cultural art form.

"I want to spread the word to other countries so that more people around the world can get to know and like Chinese culture," she concluded.