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Most stilts used today are made from wood. There are "double stilts" and "single stilt" performances. The double stilts are usually tied to one's legs to fully demonstrate his skill; the single stilt is held by the performer so that he can go up and down freely. The performance can also be divided into "Wenqiao" (the civil one) and "Wuqiao" (the martial one). The former stresses appearance and amusement, while the latter emphasizes the individual's unique skill. Gaoqiao has now also assumed strong local flavor and national color.
In Shandong Province, Gaoqiao is done at three levels, and people at the upper level stand on the shoulder of the lower ones.