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Gaoqiao 高跷, is a traditional Chinese dance with a over 4000 years history. Gaoqiao performers usually tie two long stilts to their feet. High skill is required and the form is lively and various. Because the performers are higher than others on stilts, they can be easily seen. On their "moving stage", they are deeply loved by masses.

 "Gaoqiao" originates from the totem worship of primitive clans and the fishermen's lives along the coast. Historians have proved that the Danzhu clan in the times of Yao and Shun emperors, who took the crane as their totem, walked on stilts in their sacrificing and imitated dances of the crane. Archaeologists say some oracle-bone scriptures had images of dancing on stilts (See Dances of the Shang oynasty Demonstrated by oracle-Bone Scriptures by Fang Qidong).

In the ancient geography book Shanhai jing(The Book of Mountains and Seas), there is an account of "Long-Leg Kingdom". According to ancestors, the "Long-Leg Kingdom" was related to "walking on stilts". From the text, readers can imagine a man walking on stilts, holding a long fishing tool to catch fish in the shallow water Jingzu fishermen along the coast of Fangcheng, GuangXi Zhuang Autonomous Region, still keep the Custom of fishing this way.

Most stilts used today are made from wood. There are "double stilts', and "single stilt" performances. The double stilts are usually tied to one's shank to fully demonstrate his skill; and the single stilt is held by the performer so that he can go up and down freely. The performance can be also divided into "Wenqiao" (the civil one) and "Wuqiao" (the martial one). The former stresses appearance and amusement, while the latter emphasizes individual unique skill. "Gaoqiao" has now assumed strong local flavor and national color.

In the Shandong Province, "Gaoqiao" is done at three levels, and people at the upper level stand on the shoulder of the lower ones.

In Beiing and Tianjin, performers show their high skill by jumping on one foot, doing splits or going through obstacles. Some performers can even jump down from four tables high on one foot.

In northeast China, the "Gaoqiao" in southern Liaoning is the most famous. It has complete procedures and a standard form. At first, performers must "Daxiang", that is, one stands on the shoulder of another and do a yangko dance. Then they run to change formations. At last, they perform in groups "catching butterflies", "fishing" and small local operas.

Ethnic groups, in performing "Gaoqiao", usually wear clothes of their own nationality. The Bouyei nationality has both double stilts and single ones; the latter one, due to its simplicity, is especially loved by children. In the "Gaoqiao Shuama" of the Bai ethnic group, performers are dressed like a horse. The "Two-Person Gaoqiao" of the Uygur nationality blend their local dance in it, which is fresh and new.