If you’ve ever passed by one of the major squares in the city then you’ve probably seen tuoluo being practiced – many parks have a few whipper-snappers knocking around.
Tuoluo (陀螺), meaning ‘peg-top,’ is a pastime and activity enjoyed by children and adults alike. The main objective of the game is to keep a top spinning by using a whip-like implement.
It is believed to have originated in China around 2000 BC. A 4000-year-old top was excavated in Shanxi Province in 1926.
The actual toy can be made from either wood or steel and ranges in weight from 2.5 kilograms to 11 kilograms – about the weight of a toddler.
Tuoluo enthusiast and Martyrs’ Park frequenter Mr. Huang explains that the hobby is most popular in southwestern China and in particular the province of Guizhou where the most well-made tops can be found.
According to Huang, the activity is good for the body and especially the lungs. Exponents often practice for up to 45 minutes a time, with experts being able to keep five tops turning simultaneously. This is done with a ‘whipping stick,’ which is approximately two-thirds of a meter in length. At its tip is a rubber band with frayed strands of nylon which connects with the tuoluo. Sometimes soft bull whips are also used.
Apparently, it’s easy to tell how good a whipper is by the way they wrap the rubber cord around the tuoluo and then unleash the coil to begin a spinning session.
If you fancy a go, smaller tops start at around RMB130. Get cracking!
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