Hubei Dagu Drum Ballad

Hubei dagu, once called "drum tale" or "drum-and-clapper storytelling," took shape during the Qing Daoguang reign and has more than two centuries of history, a representative storytelling art of the Jianghan plain.

A solo performer keeps time with a drum and clapper, telling long stories in Hubei dialect through plain singing and witty narration, with the emphasis on storytelling and character.

Carried by dialect, Hubei dagu preserves a wealth of folk tales and oral storytelling, a key part of the region's spoken-word heritage.

Wuhan and its surroundings are the main home of Hubei dagu, performed on storytelling stages and at festival events.