From book Beijng’s Pastimes of Yesteryear.

??????????????? Rolling the hoop was one of the most popular games in old Beijing, especially amongst boys. Many children found this more interesting than spinning tops because both the speed and direction of the hoop could be controlled.

??????????????? The whole set consisted of two parts; the hoop, a ring usually made of metal, and stick with which it was pushed along. The hoop itself could be made fairly? easily by bending a metal strip into a circle using a plier?. The size of the hoop should not be too big or too small – about the diameter? of a domestic Chinese bucket? (40 or 50 centimeters). As the hoop is designed to roll, of course the nearer it is to a perfect circle the better! The second element, the rod?, can be a made of wood or bamboo and should be about a meter long. At the end of the stick is a U-shaped metal hook to help control the hoop.

??????????????? The best locations for rolling the hoop were reasonably? flat roads, hutongs, or empty squares. Some children would hold the stick in their hand and simply push the hoop as fast as possible while their friends ran along behind them trying to keep up. Others, however, concentrated less on raw? speed and more on twisting and turning the hoop, and making it describe elaborate? figures.

??????????????? In the past children would also organize competitions by choosing a distant finishing point and then rolling the hoop to see who managed to get there first. Once the starter of the race gave the signal the group of the race gave the signal the group of excited children would begin frantically running along with their hoops rolling in front of them. As the race went on the dust and excitement would rise as the hoops rolled ahead of the posse of wildly shouting children! Due to the crowding and confusion sometimes certain hoops would clash with each other and fall; if this happened those involved were disqualified from the race. Of course the first racer to reach the finishing post with his hoop was declared the proud winner and, for a short time at least, became the toast? of his companions?!

??????????????? The trick of the game was to master the control of balance, if not the hoop was sure to fall sooner or later. The rod acted as a steering wheel, which controlled the direction of the hoop, while the speed was controlled using the strength of the hands. Playing this game also helped to strengthen arm and leg muscles, improve balance, and especially when the race was long – build up stamina?. All in all, rolling the hoop provided fun and healthy exercise and was not only popular, but possibly one of the most beneficial pastimes for growing children. However these days, at least in modern Beijing, it is almost impossible to see children playing with the rod and hoop and even in rural? areas it has become a rare sight.

?

?钳子(如老虎钳,手钳,扁嘴钳等),镊子

?直径

?.

桶, 一桶的量, [桶状物]铲斗

?杆, 棒

?适度地, 相当地

?未加工的, 生疏的, 处于自然状态的,

?精心制作的, 详细阐述的, 精细

?干杯：向一个人或物表示敬意或祝一个人健康而举杯饮酒的动作

?交谊, 友谊

?毅力, 持久力, 精力

?乡下的, 田园的, 乡村风味的, 生活在农村的