Yangtze River’s Xiajiang Haozi (Haozi: working tune or song sung to synchronize movements, with one person leading the group) is a kind of folk tune spread in Xiling Gorge of Changjiang, including Chuangong Haozi (the tune for boat trackers in towing a boat), Matou Haozi (wharftune for loading and unloading) and Banyun Haozi (tune for manual handling). Xiling Gorge, also called Xiajiang River, is the longest gorge in the Three Gorges of Yangtze River and famous for its varied river rapids. A boat crossing the Xiling Gorge is like breaking through the gate of the hell. Xiajiang Haozi was born right in this extreme life conditions from team working experience of laborers.

　　For thousands of years, Xiajiang Haozi was co-created by Xiajiang boatmen and roustabouts in their work, and has been passed down from generation to generation, forming a relatively complete music system. There are 126 existing songs, of which 94 are Chuangong Haozi in 9 kinds for their work, including cargo carrying, helm moving, boat towing, towline pulling back, sailing, oaring, wind calling and slow beats.The rest 32 are Banyun Haozi for loading, unloading, large pieces manual handling, lead wire pulling, faqian, caihuabao, flat road walking, uphill walking, downhill walking, board loading and counting, etc. In the 1970s, Xiajiang Haoziwas widely spread around the Xiajiang River, with great local influence.After the 1980s, the senior Hu Zhenhao and boatmen imitated to perform the original Xiajiang Haozi to make it pass down. Thus, he is hailed as “King of Xiajiang Haozi”.