A LIFE OF BALANCE

Hidden deep in Dabu town in Ruyuan Yao autonomous county, Guangdong province, Juda (Massive) Canyon stretches 15 kilometers with 300-meter-high cliffs jutting out on both sides.

At the Juda Canyon scenic area, a thin steel wire hangs above the gorge, and on that wire, a thrilling high-altitude performance takes place nearly every day.

Li Guanghui, 39, is the oldest "master" in a troupe of wire walkers. From solo wire walking performances to duo shows with his wife, he has made the act a highlight of the scenic area.

Usually accompanied with music, his wife, Lei Xiaoying, takes the stage first, riding a unicycle across the steel wire as she gracefully performs tricks with a flower basket.

Then Li steps onto the wire, holding a pole for balance.

Sometimes, they stop on the wire together. Li performs difficult maneuvers such as backbends and pushups. Then they continue walking forward in rhythm. The thin wire sways, making everyone hold their breath.

They perform five times a day, walking the 260-meter-long "path" each time.

"I came here in 2005 when I was only 21 years old," Li said with a smile as he explained how he got started in his career.

He joked that it was purely out of curiosity. To his surprise, he rapidly became one of the troupe's more talented performers.

He was soon assigned to perform in Ruyuan. He later met Lei, and the two began performing as a duo.

Their three children attend school in their hometown in Henan province. They are currently visiting their parents during their summer vacation.

Before their shows begin, Li and Lei inspect all the equipment. Then they change their clothes, fasten the safety ropes and wait for the music to start before stepping onto the wire.

For them, wire walking has become as easy as walking on flat ground, and they no longer feel nervous. However, the change in mindset also takes time, and it is more evident for Lei.

"I was really scared at first and didn't dare to go up," she said. "Later, it was my husband's encouragement that gave me confidence."

Technical skills are also essential. Wire walking requires years of practice, as one needs to achieve balance and maintain physical strength while performing.

There are also challenges that might not be so obvious. For example, when walking on the wire, the balance pole Li carries on his shoulders weighs 36 kilograms, which he must take into account as he performs. Also, rainfall can make the wire slippery.

Furthermore, the constant performances are exhausting.

"When you calculate it, we walk about 300 days a year. We have been doing this for 16 years, nearly 20,000 shows," Li said.

When asked why he has been doing this for so long, Li's answer is simple: "I think the scenery here is beautiful, the air is good and the people are kind."

Over the years, he has established deep friendships with others in the scenic area. They chat, relax and help each other in their spare time. The care and warmth between them have made this place his "second home".