The Zhoushan luogu is staged at the pre-opening activities of the Hangzhou Asian Games on Sept 23. [Photo/WeChat account: zsqdly] 

A number of Zhoushan folk performances including the luogu (gongs and drums) and fishermen's songs, were showcased at the pre-opening activities of the Hangzhou Asian Games on Sept 23.

Zhoushan luogu won the gold medal for folk music at the World Youth Festival in Moscow in 1957 and was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage item in 2006.

In ancient times, it was most often played at ceremonies such as weddings, funerals, and temple fair celebrations, and to accompany sacrificial offerings to the sea by fishermen.

Zhoushan luogu involves a combination of musical instruments, the primary ones of which are a gong-line of 13 gongs, and a drum-line of five drums. It has a very unique style, with various unusual sounds and contrasting volume.

Representative pieces of Zhoushan luogu music include Baxian Xu (Story of the Eight Immortals), Yujia Le (Fun Fishing Family), Sha Diao (Sand Tune), and Chao Yin (Sound of Tides), which have been compiled into the Chinese National and Folk Instrumental Music Collection - Zhejiang Section, with many other pieces having been recorded.