Wang Guiqin's 60 years with Kongzhu

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The Kongzhu, or Chinese yoyo, is widely considered one of the three major traditional folk games originating in China, together with the shuttlecock and kite. Playing the Kongzhu can make an interesting performance and is also a healthy exercise. 68-year-old Wang Guiqin is a retired Kongzhu professional from the China Acrobatics Troupe. But she still enjoys showing the younger generation how to put a spin on things.

Wang Guiqin started to play the Kongzhu when she was five. It was not just a family tradition, but more importantly, their profession.

Wang Guiqin said, "This is the case I used to load my props. I've kept it all along. This is the spindly bottle. At that time, we used this wine bottle. My sisters did it very well. Girls couldn't show their face in the public. So we had to disguise ourselves as boys. My sisters had their hair cut very short."

The Kongzhu is shaped like a dumbbell. The hollow discs on each end have square slits carved on the outside, producing a whistle. The toy emits a high-pitched sound as it whirls up and down, tossed on a string stretched between two sticks.

The girl now practicing is Yang Di, a student of Wang Guiqin. She's one of the professional Kongzhu players from the China Acrobatics Troupe. These girls were about ten when they began their rigorous training under Wang Guiqin.