As the cymbals followed the rhythm of the drums, and the drums urged the cymbals to move, two performers, with vigorous steps, flipped and hit the bronze cymbals up and down, producing a crisp sound. Their light-footed and passionate movements filled the three-to-four-minute performance, earning rounds of applause and cheers from the audience.

"During the holiday, we performed at three venues - Beitang Ancient Town, Salt Industry Folk Customs Tourist Area, and Eco - city Wanda Plaza - with a total of 58 performances. Both the team members and the audience were very enthusiastic!" Gao Jingsheng, the secretary-general of the Gaojiapuzi Flying Cymbal Performance Troupe in Zhaishang Street, Tianjin Binhai New Area, told reporters that the troupe rehearsed early to ensure a perfect presentation for the 11th Hangu Flying Cymbal Festival.

Hangu Flying Cymbal can be traced back to the early years of the Guangxu Emperor's reign in the Qing Dynasty. It was originally a folk performance organized by fishermen in the coastal areas of Tianjin for sacrifices and celebrations.

"Cymbal" is a percussion instrument and also a dance prop adorned with red and green ribbons; "Flying" refers to the amplitude of the performers' movements. "During the performance, the cymbal with ribbons is in a flying state, so it is called Flying Cymbal. Some team members play drums, some hold cymbals for accompaniment, and some dance with flying cymbals," said Gao Jingsheng, who is over 60 years old and talked endlessly about Flying Cymbal.

"According to legend, when the ancestors went to sea, the old and young of each village would play Flying Cymbal to pray for the safe return of their loved ones. Some also say that because the fishing boats were far apart, they needed to use drums and cymbals to convey information about hauling in the nets," said Gao Jingsheng. Flying Cymbal originally used drums as accompaniment, and performers used cymbals as props, which gradually developed into a folk celebration integrating music, dance, martial arts, and more.

In the old coastal fishing villages of Tianjin, fishermen who went to sea for fishing and salt workers who went to the beach to dry salt lived together. Li Zisheng, a local folklore expert and chairman of the Binhai New Area Writers Association, told reporters that many of the performance movements in Flying Cymbal were derived from various actions in fishing production, such as setting sails and hauling in nets, and also borrowed from actions in salt production, such as lifting and pushing salt. During the performance, dancers would hit the bronze cymbals in their hands, producing a crisp and pleasant sound. The dancing ribbons and golden bronze cymbals blossomed like flowers, presenting a splendid scene.

"Flying Cymbal is not just simple percussion. Its charm lies in its origin from people's production and life, while also incorporating martial arts movements and dance performances with the times," said Li Zisheng. Hangu Flying Cymbal has a very good mass base, with many folk organizations spontaneously formed, reflecting some aspects of Hangu's fishing production and salt culture. The performances have a strong life atmosphere and distinct local characteristics.

In the office of the Gaojiapuzi Flying Cymbal Performance Troupe in Zhaishang Street, reporters saw several family trees of the Gao family that recorded the inheritance of Flying Cymbal. Gao Tinghua, the president of the Gaojiapuzi Flying Cymbal Performance Troupe, told reporters that the history of Gao's Flying Cymbal is believed to be over a hundred years old, with this skill originated by ancestors in the family and continuously inherited by descendants.

On September 29, 2024, in the office of the Gaojiapuzi Flying Cymbal Performance Troupe in Zhaishang Street, Tianjin Binhai New Area, performers were dancing with cymbals. Photo by Yang Wen, Xinhua News Agency.

"On the hundred-mile salt marsh, people of all ages often perform flying cymbals to celebrate festivals," said Gao Tinghua. His brother once led a well-trained and skilled flying cymbal team that shone brightly at salt field celebrations, gaining widespread popularity among the masses.

In 2008, Hangu Flying Cymbal was included in the second batch of national intangible cultural heritage lists.

Over the years, the Gaojiapuzi Flying Cymbal Performance Troupe, comprising more than 30 local members, has visited communities, schools, enterprises, and government agencies, organizing over 300 events with more than 5,000 participants.

Gao Jingsheng noted that in the past, flying cymbal performances used cymbals weighing several pounds, posing a significant challenge for current enthusiasts learning the art. Additionally, there is a need to address how to innovate artistic expression and make traditional skills appealing to more young people.

When the Gaojiapuzi Flying Cymbal Performance Troupe visited an elementary school, some students and their parents even added Gao Jingsheng on WeChat for further inquiries. HanguGaozhuang Primary School compiled the school-based textbook Charm of Cymbal Flying, shifting the oral and physical teaching tradition of flying cymbal performance to a more structured approach.

Li Yaqing, a student at Binhai New Area Hangu No. 3 Middle School and a member of the flying cymbal team, said after participating in the Hangu Flying Cymbal Festival, "I've been learning flying cymbals for three years. Engaging in flying cymbal activities after school not only allows us to relax and exercise but also helps us understand our local history and culture, broadening our horizons."

In 2024, the Tianjin Municipal Communist Youth League Committee and the Binhai New Area Communist Youth League Committee innovated the inheritance and protection of Hangu Flying Cymbal as an intangible cultural heritage by improving some traditional moves and integrating them with street dance, gymnastics, and other forms popular among primary and middle school students.

While preserving traditions, this century-old intangible cultural heritage has been endowed with new connotations of the times and presented in new forms, attracting more people with its unique charm.