Dancing on Bamboo

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,.