Beijing Diabolo Museum

　　The Beijing Diabolo Museum is located in Xiaoxing Hutong, west of Baoguo Temple in Xicheng District, Beijing, covering an area of approximately 200 square meters. By the end of 2008, the museum had completed its renovation and exterior decoration according to schedule. Since the preparation work began in August 2008, the preparatory staff has reviewed a large amount of ancient literature, compiling approximately 100,000 words of foundational material, and revised the draft of the "Exhibition Outline" four times based on expert feedback. Meanwhile, with strong support from diabolo enthusiasts across the country, the museum has collected 458 diabolo artifacts, including 59 single-wheel diabolos, 64 double-wheel diabolos, and 345 uniquely shaped diabolos. It has also gathered nearly 400 photographic materials, as well as gold-plated certificates of representative inheritors of national intangible cultural heritage and commemorative stamp albums.

　　As the first diabolo-themed museum in Beijing and even the nation, the museum aims to preserve folk traditions, engage with local communities, and protect intangible cultural heritage. On one hand, it is dedicated to safeguarding intangible cultural heritage; on the other, it serves community cultural development, contributing to the inheritance of intangible cultural heritage and the building of harmonious communities.

　　　　\

　　Since diabolo shaking was included in the first batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the State Council in 2006, the organizing body of the Beijing Diabolo Museum — Guangnei Subdistrict Office — has taken the promotion of national cultural essence and the creation of harmonious culture that strengthens community bonds as its approach. Over three years of heritage protection, development, and cultural promotion, the office has established a themed square, published reference materials, introduced diabolo culture into schools, and participated with honor in the opening ceremony pre-show and marathon event performances of the “Unparalleled” event. It has creatively forged a path for the protection and promotion of national intangible cultural heritage projects, making outstanding contributions to advancing the preservation of such heritage.

　　　　\

　　To address the lack of a dedicated venue for promoting, showcasing, and researching diabolo culture, and to document its journey to prominence, the Guangnei Subdistrict began planning and preparing for the Beijing Diabolo Museum in 2008. After a year of relentless effort, the Beijing Diabolo Museum — now a hub for diabolo culture research and promotion, a showcase for its historical evolution, and an important carrier of Xuanwu folk culture — finally celebrated its grand opening.

　　　　\

　　The Beijing Diabolo Museum is a public welfare museum, serving as a window for the preservation and promotion of diabolo culture and the display of regional cultural heritage, as well as a base for the development of regional folk culture creative industries. During the opening ceremony, in addition to traditional speeches of congratulations and expressions of hope by leaders, four special activities were arranged: first, the museum director presented commemorative tickets to leaders and guests; second, Li Lianyuan, a national-level diabolo-shaking master, gave guided tours of the exhibits for leaders and guests, unfolding a vivid timeline of diabolo culture; third, Zhang Guoliang, a master of diabolo-making, demonstrated the craft of crafting diabolos on-site; and fourth, diabolo cultural products were introduced. Since diabolo shaking was designated as part of the first batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Guangnei Subdistrict has developed it as a cultural industry. To date, multiple series of crafted products have been created, and the museum’s opening provides a platform to showcase diabolo cultural products.

　　Source: Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development