Dandong City, designated by the State Council as an important border port in Liaoning Province and a central city in the Liaodong region, is a key port city in the Liaoning Coastal Economic Zone. It is a crucial intersection of the Northeast Asian Economic Circle and the Bohai Rim Economic Circle, serving as the main land route connecting the Korean Peninsula with China and the Eurasian continent. It is the easternmost starting point of the Great Wall of China and the northernmost starting point of China's vast maritime territory. The term "Andong" originated with the establishment of the Andong Protectorate during the Tang Dynasty. In 1876, during the second year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty, Andong County was established, establishing its initial form. Dandong, the northernmost starting point of China's coastline, is a riverside, coastal, and border city primarily focused on industry, commerce, ports, logistics, and tourism. It is a national-level border cooperation zone and coastal open city, boasting 10 ports of five types: ports, railways, highways, pipelines, and airports, as well as a Sino-North Korean border trade zone. It is a trade port city with North Korea and a regional distribution hub. Dandong boasts beautiful scenery and is designated a National Sanitary City, a National Garden City, an Excellent Tourism City, and a National Model City for Supporting the People's Livelihood and Supporting the People.
Dandong Dangu is a traditional folk art practice widely practiced in Kuandian, Fengcheng, and Donggang, Liaoning Province. Commonly known as "burning incense," it is a quintessential Liaoning cultural art. Dangu is divided into two types: "minxiang" (min incense) and "qixiang" (qi incense). The Han Chinese call it "minxiang," while the Manchu Han Bannermen call it "qixiang." Dandong Dangu can be traced back to the shamanic dances of the Jurchen period, spanning hundreds of years.
Dangu performances are often held during the slack season, with dozens or even hundreds of people spontaneously gathering to participate in or enjoy this traditional folk custom. Dandong Dangu, with its fundamental performance combining storytelling and singing, is characterized by its distinctive artistic characteristics of both singing and dancing. Dandong Dangu has influenced many other local art forms, including Northeastern folk songs, dagu (big drum), and Errenzhuan (two-person opera). Therefore, preserving Dangu art is crucial to promoting China's outstanding national culture. Folk Customs
Drum music is widely practiced in Dandong, Liaoning Province, with a history of at least a century. Records of this music can be found in early Dandong county chronicles, including the "Andong County Chronicles: Weddings," the "Fengcheng County Chronicles: Funerals," and the "Fengcheng County Chronicles: Annual Events." Dandong drum music, commonly known locally as "guchui music," features numerous instrumental names and an even more diverse range of tunes. This traditional instrumental performance, primarily based on traditional wind and percussion instruments, has been beloved by the general public for centuries.
During special occasions such as Chinese New Year and other festivals, weddings, and funerals, local residents often hire a drum band, a tradition that has become a fixture. Dandong drum music can be broadly divided into two categories: "suona music," primarily featuring the suona, and "shengguan music," primarily featuring guanzi instruments. Dandong drum music plays a crucial role in the study of the development of Dandong folk music and is a valuable intangible cultural heritage.