Kaifeng Pan Drum (Panggu)

Originally called 'big drum,' Kaifeng pan drum is the city's own folk square drumming, closely tied to the yagu drum music that circulated in Kaifeng across four centuries from Song to Ming, and performed at festivals and temple fairs.

A troupe of dozens or even hundreds of drummers straps large drums to the waist and beats them while marching, joined by great cymbals and gongs in powerful, ringing rhythms with many set patterns, making for a spectacular display.

As one of the national 'gong-and-drum arts,' Kaifeng pan drum was inscribed in 2008 on the second national ICH list, an important survival of central-plains folk percussion and Song urban culture.

It is performed at Kaifeng's festivals, temple fairs and city cultural events, one of the most imposing folk spectacles on the city's streets.