EARNEST: Zhang Guoliang makes kongzhu in his courtyard home in Beijing's Tongzhou District on August 22 (SHI GANG)

A middle-aged man playing with a kongzhu, a folk toy known as the Chinese yo-yo, attracted audiences at a courtyard in Tongzhou District in Beijing on August 22. "I like to ponder on kongzhu since my childhood, said 56-year-old man Zhang Guoliang, an inheritor of making the traditional Chinese toy.

Over the past 30 years, Zhang has studied and developed the technology of making the Chinese yo-yo. Mingling national culture and modern design into his products, he has made his own unique contributions to kongzhu craft.

Zhang has participated in many major customary events at home and abroad.

Kongzhu was invented 1,700 years ago and provided amusement to imperial courts from dynasty to dynasty. The toy creates a distinctive sound as it wobbles the thread. Although traditionally made of wood, it can now be produced from various materials. In the West, a derivative of the kongzhu is called diabolo.

In accordance with different combination of the wheels and axles, shapes of kongzhu are divided into double wheels, single wheels, double axles with multiple wheels, and double wheels with multi-levels.

Playing kongzhu is a traditional acrobatic game among people of the Han nationality. The sport is especially popular in north China.

In 2006, kongzhu playing was listed among the first batch of state-level intangible cultural heritage items.

Passing Down

Kongzhu playing is a folk activity, integrating entertainment with exercise, performance and sport contests. It is both a diversion and a spectator sport.

"My family was supported by making kongzhu from the generation of my grandpa," said Zhang Guoliang.

Zhang's grandpa Zhang Ruiru began learning to be a carpenter since his childhood and became a skillful toymaker when he grew up.

Zhang's father Zhang Baoquan improved the making of kongzhu into different sizes and shapes. His father and grandfather were known in Beijing as the Kongzhu Zhangs.

To play kongzhu, one takes a 50-cm long bamboo pole in each hand with a string connecting the two. The string is coiled around the axle and wobbled with increasing strength, so as to make the kongzhu rise higher. Afterwards, whistles on the wheel of the kongzhu will produce a far-reaching sound. "It is this sound that fascinated me when I was young," said Zhang.

To prevent the craft of kongzhu from disappearing, Zhang Guoliang resigned from his job in 1990 to pursue the craft full-time.

As Zhang had no venue or capital to start his business, he had to make the toys at home, and sell them in the street as a vendor to support his family.

His persistence despite hardship paid off. "As more people liked the kongzhu toys I made, my living standard improved," said Zhang, adding that "Playing kongzhu will evoke nostalgia for old Beijing. In addition, it is good physical exercise for them."