Kuaiban

Kuaiban is a form of oral storytelling performance that is popular in northern China. It is a type of shuochang, somewhat similar to rapping.

Kuaiban is sometimes called kuai ban (), literally meaning fast boards or bamboo talk. It is also known as kuai shu, literally meaning fast books. In Beijing, the art form is known as kuaibanr.

The name refers to bamboo clappers, a set of small bamboo boards or bones, which the performer rattles to produce an accompanying beat (similar to rapping).

The free rhyming style is called "flower point". The line should have seven words. This rule, however, is not strictly followed if the rhythmic beat and rhyme coincide to allow more words or fewer words.

While bones have been used as musical instruments in China for thousands of years, kuaiban in its modern form was pioneered by Li Runjie of Tianjin in the 1940s.

During weekend evenings, groups of middle-aged and elderly people perform kuaiban on the south side of the hill in Jingshan Park in Beijing.

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