The name "diabolo" comes from the fact it is made of bamboo and has a hollow center. Diabolo has a long history. Its earliest recorded history can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty. Due to the improvement of the production process, diabolo, which was originally a recreational game, developed into a competitive activity and a traditional acrobatic performance. The player holds two small bamboo sticks of about 67 cm in length in each hand, with a cotton string about 167 cm long tied to the top of each stick. The strings are wound around the diabolo's spool once or twice. The player lifts the strings with one hand and releases them with the other, thus constantly shaking the diabolo to speed up its rotation, making a sound.

As a kind of cultural heritage, diabolo is valuable folk culture with entertainment and fitness functions. With a long history, stable mass base as well as mature and complete technical skills, Beijing is one of the most representative regions for the development and inheritance of diabolo, a kind of folk sport activity. The diabolo culture in the Guang'anmen inner streets of Xuanwu District originated from the temple fairs in Ming and Qing Dynasties. It has a clear lineage of inheritance, unique production and performance techniques, so it is a good example of folk custom in Beijing. Guang'anmen inner streets can be recognized as an important preservation site of diabolo culture in Beijing.

(Sources: Beijing Daily Client, InBeijing.cn)