(Isstories Editorial):- Hebi, Henan Mar 5, 2026 (Issuewire.com) – By Qi Chenjiong
A mechanical “Aerial Warrior” spreads 3.5-meter LED wings. A chubby God of Wealth wobbles on stilts. An ancient dragon dance sports pickleball patterns. Welcome to the “Shehuo Idol Group”–where millennium-old heritage meets cyberpunk cool in Xun County, central China’s Henan Province.
Debuting at the 18th Central Plains (Hebi) Folk Culture Festival, this reimagined folk performance troupe transforms Xun County Ancient City into a stage for the “coolest collision” of eras. From February 17 to March 2, 2026, the Idol Group parade through the UNESCO-listed Grand Canal heritage site, interacting with visitors as a featured festival program.
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Xun County shehuo–a national intangible cultural heritage for over 1,000 years–traditionally features stilt-walking, lion dances, and drum performances that empty streets during the Spring Festival. The “Shehuo Idol Group” reinvents these scattered elements as unified IP characters.
“Think of it as an idol group,” director Ye Long introduced. “Each character has distinct personality–memorable at first glance.”
The “Aerial Warrior ” incorporates Nigugu clay whistle patterns into LED-lit armor. The Q-version God of Wealth rides a “leather tiger”–another local heritage craft–while performing magic tricks. Performers serve Zimo (stone-baked flatbread) and fried shrimp crackers, creating heritage you can “touch, taste, and take home.”
Traditional shehuo takes place daytime; this team engineered lighting for night economies. LED-embedded wings and reflective costumes turn parades into flowing light shows.
“Visitors love night tourism, so we made shehuo glow,” Ye explains.
Young performers from Xun County’s “Shehuo Village Super League” train six hours daily, balancing mechanical wings on weighted stilts. “These kids grew up with shehuo,” Ye says. “They have instinctive love for these arts.”
Rooted in Xun County’s rich culture–including the Grand Canal, Liyang Granary Ruins–the Idol Group breathes new life into tradition, proving ancient walls can pulse with contemporary energy.
This article was originally published by IssueWire. Read the original article here.
