Ancient streets come alive with baixi festival

Acrobats perform daring stunts on top of a high pole, stilt walkers dressed as mythological creatures walk the streets, and two "lions" compete for a bamboo ball to the cheers of the crowd. The historical streets of Dongnan Yi, an old neighborhood in the ancient city area of Datong, Shanxi province, were filled with laughter and summer vibes, as the Baixi Art Festival opened on Wednesday.

Baixi, or "all performing arts", is a collective term for a wide variety of popular performances in ancient China, and encompasses acrobatics, opera, martial arts and many other forms of street entertainment.

Running until July 14, the festival brings the tradition of baixi back to the centuries-old streets of Dongnan Yi. The neighborhood has preserved the original layout and character of Datong's lifang (residential area) network, earning it the title of "a living fossil of Datong's lifang system". In recent years, it has undergone regeneration, with architects and designers working together to restore its old buildings.

Several of the performances draw inspiration from artifacts housed in the city's museums, which celebrate Datong's heritage. The festival also features productions by international performing groups, bubble shows and craft fairs.