Performance of Li Ming and his team for visitors.

Performance of Li Ming and his team for tourists.

Cultural event participated in by Li Ming and his team for tourists. (Al photos taken by correspondent Qiu Hongbin)

CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- Since the year began, the “Youyang Gong and Drum Performance” was performed in Aiba Village, Youyang County. Li Ming and his team has become an important part of the intangible cultural heritage program Ancient Tima Song for its simple images, sharp contrast, ingenious temperament, lively and mysterious regional style and ethnic features.

According to Li Ming, the “Youyang Gong and Drum Performance” already has hundreds of years of history and can traced back to the Ming Dynasty. The performers consist of four people playing base drum, horse gong, big gong and cymbal respectively. It is an indispensible performance in folk customs activities such as weddings and funerals in Tujia villages. In 2013, the “Youyang Gong and Drum Performance” was successfully included in the fourth Chongqing municipal intangible heritage list. It has been awarded prizes in competitions such as the Hunan “Tujia Sheba Festival & Liuzi Competition in Wuling Mountainous Area” and the second Chinese Traditional Instrumental Music & Folk Music Combined Performance. (Translated by Huang Juan, Fathom Language Limited)