Lianxiang (Luzhi Lianxiang) is an extended Lianxiang, which is a popular recreational and fitness activity in rural areas and towns in Luzhi. Lianxiang is also popular in Chengxiang, Liuhe, and Shengpu Street, Suzhou Industrial Park. Lianxiang, also known as Lianxiang, Bawangbian, Huagun, Jinqiangun, Dahuaqiang, etc. Its history can be traced back to the "Lotus Fall" in the Song Dynasty. Lotus is a lucky flower, and "fall" means decline. It was originally a kind of folk art sung by beggars in the north when begging. After being introduced to Suzhou, it has been integrated with the soft and delicate charm of the Jiangnan water town, which is different from the rough and bold style of the north. After a long period of historical evolution, it has gradually been combined with people's production and life, and has become a festival celebration, temple fair activity or self-entertainment art activity. The spread of Lianxiang in Suzhou has a history of at least hundreds of years, especially in Luzhi, Shengpu and Taicang in Wudong, where it is more widely spread and has more distinct characteristics. There is a difference between playing Lianxiang and martial arts. The Wenlianxiang emphasizes both singing and dancing, with a brisk rhythm; the Wulianxiang is active and free, with a smooth rhythm and rough movements. Most of the Jiangnan area is the Wenlianxiang. Lianxiang can be performed by a man and a woman, or by a group of people. During the performance, they all hold a Lianxiang in their hands, and beat their limbs, shoulders, waist, back, buttocks, the ground, and others to the rhythm; they sing and dance, constantly change formations, and beat a bright rhythm with the dance steps and music. The accompaniment is erhu, suona, gongs and drums. Most of the tunes are local minor tunes. The singing is mainly chorus, sometimes solo, duet or one-leading-many-response, with occasional interludes. There is also a pure music accompaniment, in which the actors do not open their mouths. Although there is no singing, the movements increase the difficulty of turning, flipping, jumping, leaping, bending down, and swinging sticks, making the Lianxiang more dance-like and more interesting. In Taicang and Shengpu, the Lianxiang is accompanied by the folk minor tunes of Suzhou Water Village, with a strong local flavor. The rhythm and movements of Luzhi Lianxiang are simple or complex, and the postures include "Fairy Trap", "Shaking the Body and Knocking the Xiang", "Sideways Knocking the Xiang", "Five Fingers Turning the Xiang", etc. The basic steps of Lianxiang in Taicang and Shengpu include "four-way step", "normal walking step", "yangko step", "stepping step", "running and jumping step", etc. It is basically a group dance. The Lianxiang dancers in Taicang wear flower scarves on their heads, cloth shoes on their feet, and clothes with cloth buttons on the front. The Lianxiang performance costumes in Luzhi and Shengpu are the most distinctive, including head wraps, belly bands, large-collared patchwork shirts, crotch-stitched pants, skirts, waist bands, patchwork embroidered shoes, and rolled arms. Women consider wearing such water village women's costumes beautiful. The props for Lianxiang performances are made of three-foot bamboo poles, with two three-inch long notches carved on both ends. Two groups of copper coins are inlaid in each notch, with two or three in each group. When shaken, the copper coins collide and make a sound. Then, a group of colored wool threads are tied on the two sections of the Lianxiang and near the notches to enhance the visual effect. The Lianxiang bamboo poles can also be painted and beautified. Lianxiang was originally a symbol of begging by poor people in the north. After the performances were introduced to the south, they added southern artistic elements and combined with the production, life and folk customs of the southern people, becoming folk cultural and sports activities for celebrating the harvest, celebrating the New Year and attending temple fairs. This fusion of the north and the south and historical changes undoubtedly gave Lianxiang a certain historical and cultural value. Lianxiang has a brisk rhythm, graceful dance and pleasant singing, coupled with the beautiful water village women's clothing, which has a high artistic appreciation value. Lianxiang is closely linked to local folk customs and is also a fitness exercise that exercises the body and pleases the mind and body. Hitting the corresponding acupuncture points in various parts of the body can prevent and treat diseases. Therefore, it has certain scientific value in terms of folklore, sports, medicine and other aspects. In addition, it also has sightseeing tourism value. (No pictures yet, welcome to provide.) (No pictures yet, welcome to provide.)