Songji Donkey Racing is a traditional dance item in the fourth batch of representative items of Huai'an's municipal intangible cultural heritage. Historical evolution and distribution Donkey racing is a folk fire dance that is widely spread in the northern region. Songji Donkey Racing mainly originates from local production and living customs. It is sorted and processed according to the scenes and plots of production and life of the local people. It is accompanied by creative and humorous performances of the masses. In the slack season, it is accompanied by community sacrifice activities to pray for the prosperity of livestock, good weather, peace and prosperity, etc. It was popular in Huaiyin area from the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China. Basic content and characteristics Traditional donkey racing is mostly a two-person performance in which one person holds a donkey-shaped prop to play a donkey-riding woman and the other person plays a donkey driver. Songji Donkey Racing is different from two-person performances in other regions. It is generally composed of three or more people. The performance of a three-person group is generally composed of three actors who play the father-in-law, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law respectively. The story often takes place on the way to the market or back to the mother's house. Along the way, crossing ditches, climbing slopes, donkeys are startled, rescued, etc. The plot is ups and downs and exciting. The whole process is humorous and interesting with singing, dancing and talking. The props of Songji Donkey Racing are bamboo skeletons, with paper or cloth pasted on the outside to make the donkey head and body. Because there are no donkey legs, the donkey body is surrounded by cloth. Most of the donkey riders are rural young women. They tie the props around their waists and pretend to ride a donkey. With the waist as the center, the upper body shakes, and the lower body cooperates with trembling small steps to simulate the donkey's running, jumping, kicking, startling, stubborn and other movements and expressions. The strength, size, height and lowness of the actors' upper and lower movements should echo each other and cooperate with the donkey driver. The dance movements of Songji Donkey Racing mainly include more than 10 kinds of donkey riders' flat flashing steps, mountain steps, mountain steps, donkey running steps, donkey jumps, big running, river crossing steps, etc.; the donkey driver's horizontal twisting steps, small running steps, backward kicking steps, donkey kicking steps, donkey lifting steps, donkey driving, donkey leading, donkey sitting, donkey chasing, etc. The content of Songji Donkey Racing mainly expresses the trivialities of people's daily life, promotes the truth, goodness and beauty in life, and lashes out at false, ugly and evil phenomena. It is often performed in the streets of towns, fields, and farmyards. It is a popular program during traditional festivals such as the Spring Festival, temple fairs, weddings and funerals, and birthday celebrations. The accompanying instruments include suona, gongs and drums, cymbals, and small cymbals. The music often uses folk songs from northern Jiangsu. Songji Paolu is the crystallization of the wisdom of the working people. It fully reflects the working people's positive attitude towards life and their desire for a better life. It has a certain reference value for studying the history, culture, and customs of Huaiyin. (No pictures yet, welcome to provide.) (No pictures yet, welcome to provide.)