Moving Iron Branch in Shacheng, Fuding is a Han folk activity in Fuding, Fujian Province. In the late and Ming and early Qing Dynasties, Moving Iron Branch was introduced from Quanzhou, Fujian to coastal area in eastern Fujian and once popular in Fuding, Jiaocheng, Fu'an, Xiapu, Shouning and other counties (cities and districts). Moving Iron Branch in Shacheng, eastern Fujian is characterized by mastery skills, powerful lineup and magnificent scene. By absorbing the essence of folk literature and art, traditional drama, dance and acrobatics and other art performance, "Moving Iron Branch" has developed its own distinctive performance characteristics and become an influential folk customs of Han nationality in eastern Fujian.

According to the Genealogy of Family Liu in Shacheng, ancestors of Family Liu moved from Yongchuan, Quanzhou to Shacheng and surrounding areas in the 11^th year during the reign of Qianlong (1746). Following their ancestors' tradition, they would hold Moving Iron Branch at festivals, ceremonies, God Birthday and temple fairs. In general, it is held from the 3^rd day to the 15^th day in the Chinese calendar each year. In combination with "Sedan Drum Pavilion", "string lion dance", "land boat", "walk on stilts", "flower lantern", "fish-lantern", "street tune" and other Han customs, Moving Iron Branch has contributed to an excellent performance art characterized by traditional festival customs of Yujia and rural cultural ambience in fishing villages.

Moving Iron Branch in Shacheng represents a kind of mass culture of Han nationality. Before China's liberation and during the Cultural Revolution, Shacheng Moving Iron Branch was at a low ebb and was gradually recovered and gained expanded influence after the 1990s [1].

Moving Iron Branch in Shacheng, is commonly known as "bar (Gang in Chinese)" and "pavilion (Ge in Chinese)" and also known as "Porting Iron Branch". In its early development stage, it was of bamboo and wooden structure with the bar carried by man. One layer is about 2-3m high, known as level pavilion. With gradual development, Moving Iron Branch has evolved to be a Han folk performance art with steel tube or bar iron welded into branch shape and fixed on the thill for moving.

Moving Iron Branch in Shacheng belongs to mobile performance and is thus performed along streets while moving. Limited by the bearing capacity of the support, all actors are children. There are two kinds of performance means. The first means retains the tradition, i.e. holding iron branch by shoulders. The height of iron branch is limited within 3m in such a means. Strong adults carry children actors by their shoulders for moving. Also, the pavilion is a little primitive and simple and its performance form is also restricted by many geological conditions. The second means employs "iron branch" made of bar iron or steel tube. So far, the frame of Moving Iron Branch has been made into 10m, approaching to the height of a three-floor building. The space between layers is known as "transition branch", with "branch" for short. With one steel bar as the pole in the middle of one iron branch and two steel bars leading to the upper layer from the chassis, steel bars are made into different shapes based on content needs of Moving Iron Branch and then characters and props on this branch is fixed by layer. At most 10 little actors are bound on important positions of each branch. The vehicle can be pushed forward, followed by a band for accompaniment. The lineup is very mighty and holds tremendous visual effect.

Moving Iron Branch is actually a process of moving iron branches, its artistic characteristics are represented by the following three aspects.

① Artistry. It is the most striking feature of Moving Iron Branch. In comparison of "transition branches" on each iron branch, the higher the transition branch's secrecy is and more ingenious its design is, the higher its artistry will be. For instance, in Nezha Conquers The Dragon King held in Neiao, Shacheng, keeled transition branch was employed, which is thicker, while in The Legend of Love hosted by Liu Zhengchu from Waiao, one red stick and abacus was assigned on each side respectively. All circled together to guess whether it is red stick transition branch or transition branch abacus. Many believed that the abacus holder is too thin and thus transition branch is not eligible. Both sides holding an opposite opinion made a bet and then cut off the red stick on site. As a result, the upper Moving Iron Branch stood firm and the abacus transition branch was revealed, causing a great stir on site. In 2013, "carriage wheel" and "birdcage" transition branches were showed in Shacheng. It is difficult for all to make its mystery clear.

② Ornamental value of its performance. This is a main feature of Moving Iron Branch. As the night fell, Moving Iron Branch was done in a straight line among audience. It was crossed now and then rounded, making a floating scene in the night sky. Different and constantly changing "scene" in three consecutive nights fed all audience's sight and also made them captivated. In The 1^st Taimushan Culture & Tourism Festival, the Moving Iron Branch performance team from Shacheng took the field among audience's praises and scream. Due to narrow streets and irregular passages in Shacheng, most "bound" ion branches were 7-8m high. Thought not the highest one, it still kept the national record.

③ Inclusive forms This is a significant feature of Moving Iron Branch. The special geographical location of Shacheng adjacent to coast, numerous inheriting customs in Yujia and the melting of them make the performance art of Moving Iron Branch pass on and kept constant innovation and development. Sedan Drum Pavilion, dragon lantern dance, merry-go-round, land boat, fish-lantern and other customs in 2013 contributed to a happy fancy at the Lantern Festival, leading to the theme of "celebrating the Lantern Festival, celebrating reunion and promoting harmony". All the above demonstrate the indomitable and courageous spirit of Shacheng people in tough years.

Moving Iron Branch in Shacheng, Fuding has been incorporated in the List of National Nonmaterial Cultural Heritage.