Yongji Beibing, commonly known as "muscle show", originated and spread in Changwang Village, 35 kilometers southwest of Yongji City. It has a unique form of performance and a long history, and is deeply loved by the local people.
According to the legend, during the reign of Emperor Xianfeng of the Qing Dynasty, the peasant rebels were led by Hong Xiuquan marched north to attack Pujindu Ferry. The generals from the Qing army forced to demolish the civilian houses which are ready to be used as fire wood for defense system for the Taiping Army siege. Xiang Fulu (from Changwang Village of Yongji ) of the rebel army proposed to cut ice in the Yellow River, and then he asked soldiers to carry ice to put out the fire to break through the city. The plan was successful. After Xiang Fulu was retired and returned to his village, during the Spring Festival, he organized the villagers to prepare Shehuo rite by imitating the scene of carrying ice to fight in order to show the fearless spirit of "Fear Not". This custom has been carried on since Emperor Xianfeng period and is generally performed during the Spring Festival and Lantern Festival. Its main performance actions include the watering, ice breaking, crawling, invulnerability, and so on, which has no difficulty in acting, easy for people to participate in, which mainly shows the tough and strong masculinity, reflecting the local people's iron-bone spirit and resolute and strong heroism.
