Juggling diabolos, paper-cutting ... Yesterday afternoon (August 13), the Xuan Nan Museum in Beijing was exceptionally lively as dozens of folk artists displayed their unique skills. This marked the beginning of the fourth "Ordinary People Press Conference" organized by Beijing's municipal government and the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games, attracting over 30 journalists from more than 10 domestic and international media outlets.
The Xuan Nan Museum is located within the Changchun Temple. As soon as the domestic and international media journalists entered the courtyard, they were immediately captivated by a diabolo performance underway. The mesmerizing moves like silk threading, carp wagging its tail, and swan jump were accompanied by continuous applause and exclamations of admiration. After the performance concluded, many journalists requested an encore. A photographer sheepishly explained: "I was so absorbed in watching that I forgot to take pictures."
"Juggling diabolos is a traditional folk fitness activity in old Beijing. It’s suitable for all ages and very easy to learn," explained Li Lianyuan, the elderly captain of the diabolo performance team, while simultaneously demonstrating various dazzling tricks that drew cheers from the audience. Yatian, a journalist from Ukraine, couldn't resist giving it a try and quickly picked up the skills. He expressed: "It's incredible! This Chinese folk art is exciting! It's hard to believe that these senior citizens are amateur performers. I will include this in my report to let more people know about this skill."
An egg carving artist was "cornered" by a blonde journalist who enthusiastically inquired about the techniques and history of egg carving; a group of "auntie yangge dancers" with an average age of 55 became the center of attention. Dressed in ethnic costumes, the performers confidently showed journalists photos of their performances in France, South Korea, and other places... Media journalists surrounded the folk artists according to their preferences, conducting interviews and taking photos. "Although some of them don't speak fluent Chinese, they ask very detailed questions, and communicating with them is very enjoyable," said Yang Xiaokang, the egg carving artist.
"Truly a hidden gem, the courtyard is beautiful, and the performances inside are even more wonderful. I really like this style of interviewing and enjoy this way of working," said Mamon, a regular attendee of the "Ordinary People Press Conference" and a journalist from Al Jazeera Sports Channel. As the press conference neared its end, Yatian was still reluctant to leave: "I really like this relaxed style of interviewing. I've already started looking forward to the next press conference." (Reported by Liu Yan)
*Note: The phrase "carving software" appears to be mistakenly included in the original text and does not seem relevant to the article content.*
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