Subei Dagu is a main form of folk art in northern Jiangsu province, which is popular in Suqian, Lianyungang, and Xuzhou. It can be dated back to over 800 years ago. Subei Dagu is performed in dialects. There is only one performer, and there will be speaking and singing at the same time. In front of the performer, there stands a drum (gu). The performer holds bamboo chips or cloud-shaped chips in their left hand, and sometimes two crescent-shaped steel plates. These are for striking for the rhythm to better reflect the emotions and enhance the atmosphere. The artistic style of “something in-between of speaking and singing” with many book chapters to be chosen from, both traditional and modern, has been widely favored by the people of northern Jiangsu region. 
