The Taiping Drum Dance in Lanzhou, Northwest China's Gansu province, is more than 600 years old. Taiping literally means "peace" in Chinese. The drum is shaped like a big cylinder, is about 70 centimeters high and 45 centimeters in diameter.

With a picture of adragondrawn on its red body and a Taiji diagram (concerning opposing elements) encircled by the Eight Diagrams(Bagua, relating to divination) on its cowhide cover, it incorporates the most important symbols of Chinese culture.

The splendor of its performance is brought about not only by the intricate yet ingenious formations of the team as a whole, but also by the individual drummers, who, beating the drum in a bold and powerful manner, hoist it over their heads, or shove it to the ground, or jump over it, all in perfect unison with other performers.

Today, the Taiping Drum Dance is still very popular in Lanzhou. In Lanzhou suburbs, every village has their drum team. When the Spring Festival comes, the Taiping drum teams in each village will hold parades before villagetemples, dispersing evil spirits and invoking blessings.