Gaoqiao (Walking on Stilts) performers usually tie two long stilts to their feet. High skill is required and the form is lively and various. Because the performers on stilts are higher than others, they can be easily seen. On their "moving stage", they are deeply loved by masses.

Scholars believe the Gaoqiao originates from the totem worship of primitive clans and the fishermen's lives along the coast. Historians have proved that the Danzhu clan in the times of Yao and Shun emperors, who took the crane as their totem, walked on stilts in their sacrificing and imitated dances of the crane. Archaeologists say some oracle-bone scriptures had images of dancing on stilts.

In the ancient geography book Shanhaijing (The Book of Mountains and Seas), there is an account of Long-Leg Kingdom. According to ancestors, the Long-Leg Kingdom was related to "walking on stilts". From the text, readers can imagine a man walking on stilts, holding a long fishing tool to catch fish in the shallow water Jingzu fishermen along the coast of Fangcheng, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, still keep the custom of fishing this way.

Most stilts used today are made from wood. There are "double stilts", and "single stilt" performances. The double stilts are usually tied to one's shank to fully demonstrate his skill; and the single stilt is held by the performer so that he can go up and down freely. The performance can be also divided into Wenqiao (the civil one) and Wuqiao (the martial one). The former stresses appearance and amusement, while the latter emphasizes individual unique skill. Gaoqiao has now assumed strong local flavor and national color.

In Shandong Province, Gaoqiao is done at three levels, and people at the upper level stand on the shoulder of the lower ones. In Beijing and Tianjin, performers show their high skill by jumping on one foot, doing splits or going through obstacles. Some performers can even jump down from four tables high on one foot. In northeast China, the Gaoqiao in southern Liaoning is the most famous. It has complete procedures and a standard form. At first, performers must Daxiang, that is, one stands on the shoulder of another and do a Yangko dance. Then they run to change formations. At last, they perform in groups "catching butterflies", "fishing" and small local operas.

Ethnic groups, in performing Gaoqiao , usually wear clothes of their own nationality. The Bouyei people have both double stilts and single ones; the latter one, due to its simplicity, is especially favored by children. In the Gaoqiao Shuama of the Bai ethnic group, performers are dressed like a horse. The Two-Person Gaoqiao of the Uygur nationality blends their local dance in it, which is fresh and new.