64-year-old devoted to traditional Chinese magic

Jia Haishui, 64, from Shijiazhuang, is an inheritor of traditional Chinese magic."

"I was born in a magic family. My father used to perform magic near South Garden of the city. I often watched him perform, since I was born in fact. Our guests were also magicians so I developed an affinity for the art since an early age," Jia said.

Though he learned many tricks when he was young, Jia had little chance to perform, except for neighbors and classmates. He took part in countryside tours with his father's students near Shijiazhuang during his winter vacations.

Jia began to work in a construction company in 1978, but always carried a small bag to perform on the street each weekend. He eventually asked a carpenter to make him a prop box inside which he would "make people appear or disappear."

Jia's magic was successfully selected as a third batch Shijiazhuang Municipal Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009. Jia has participated in various performances after retirement. He said the only way to keep magic alive is by performing before an audience.

"I've been studying magic for more than fifty years. I hold deep feelings for it. Magic makes people happy. I also feel joyful when performing. I'll spare no effort to teach people who want to learn the skill so magic can be inherited," said Jia.