As a result the area became bleak and desolate. In order to remember this piece of history and encourage the dragon body to grow back and thereby make the area green again, the Kushui Street locals started the custom of holding a festival on "dragon raising its head" day. Thus the tradition of walking on stilts has lasted for hundreds of years.

On May 20, 2006, the stilt-walking performance was approved by the State Council as an intangible cultural heritage. In recent years, the Kushui Street stilt walking performances have been held around the nation and even abroad.

By Cao Zhizheng