Wu Tiao Ren（五条人，The Five Men） is a folk-rock band from Haifeng County, Guangdong Province, China, known for their use of the Haifeng dialect, rough-and-tumble style, and concern for rural life. Wu Tiao Ren was formed in March 2009 by two Haifeng natives, "A Mao" (lead vocalist and acoustic guitarist) and "Ren Ke" (lead vocalist, electric guitarist, accordionist, and harmonica player). Wu Tiao Ren members are not classically trained. Their music mostly narrates past people and events using commoner language, focusing on surrounding circumstances, and serving as a record of rapid societal transformation. In these accounts, the creators themselves are part of the subjects they depict. Wu Tiao Ren's dialogue, shouts, and curses are easily reminiscent of the local customs and folkways of Haifeng and Lufeng. Different from the generally "healing" tone of typical folk music, Wu Tiao Ren's themes often revolve around the cultural differences between urban and rural areas and the conflict between globalization and localism. Some critics suggest that Wu Tiao Ren's music is not folk music in the true sense, but a combination of folk, rock, and local vernacular street performance. Songs by Wu Tiao Ren are much of southern flavor. Upon hearing the sound of their guitars and accordions (sometimes harmonicas or jew’s harps), one can feel a breeze blowing from this small seaside town, bringing along understandable whispers of the ocean. Once you lend your ear to their songs, the less you understand the patois, the more fun you will have. They say it is the same feature of all native tongues. The life and music of Wu Tiao Ren are always full of joy. They are like two sparrows always ready to peck some rice and then fly back to the wire pole. In 2001, after failing the college entrance examination, A Mao moved from Haifeng to Guangzhou, making a living by selling pirated discs from a street stall, and was influenced by domestic and international records. Ren Ke studied painting in a local arts and crafts class in Haifeng. During the Spring Festival of 2003, Haifeng organized a "Haifeng Original Music Concert." A Mao and Ren Ke met because they both participated in the performance, which later led Ren Ke to move to Shipai Village in Guangzhou to stay with A Mao, and they supported themselves by selling pirated books from stalls. In 2007, the Guangzhou government cracked down on street vendors in preparation for the 2010 Asian Games, so the two rented a space to open a record store, and only then did they begin writing songs. In 2008, Ren Ke and Mao Tao were introduced to Zhou Yunpeng and his manager at the time, Tong Yan. Ren Ke and Mao Tao served as the opening act for a Zhou Yunpeng performance, where they gained the appreciation of Tong Yan, officially launching their music career. In 2009, with the help of several friends, the duo officially formed Wu Tiao Ren and recorded their first album, *县城记* (County Town Story). This album is mainly in the Haifeng dialect and represents the folk works from the "Two People" period, primarily describing life in the county seat. That year, the album was nominated for the Annual Music Award in the 2009 Cultural Originality List by *Southern Weekend* and was praised for showcasing the authentic rural China. In May 2010, they won Best New Group and Best Folk Artist at the 10th Chinese Music Media Awards for this album. In May 2012, they released their second album, a double CD titled *一些风景* (Some Scenery). The musical style shifted from folk to rock, with themes covering local customs and societal changes, full of grassroots humor and compassion. This album won the Best Folk Album Award and Best Dialect Album Award at the 4th Golden Banyan Awards by *Nandu Entertainment Weekly*, as well as the Best Folk Artist Award and Best Band Award at the 13th Chinese Music Media Awards. In early 2015, Wu Tiao Ren added a new member, drummer Deng Boyu, and signed with Modern Sky's Badhead label. They subsequently released their third album, *广东姑娘* (Guangdong Girl), in March. Wu Tiao Ren not only incorporated electric guitar for the first time but also increased the number of Mandarin songs, while maintaining their beautiful melodies. This album won the Best Folk Album of the Year and Folk Musician of the Year at the 6th Golden Indie Music Awards in Taiwan and the 5th Abilu Music Awards. In 2017, Wu Tiao Ren released their fourth album, *梦幻丽莎发廊* (Dreamy Lisa Hair Salon). Ren Ke played the piano in a song for the first time. This album won the Best Folk Album of the Year at the 6th Abilu Music Awards. In February 2019, Wu Tiao Ren released their fifth studio album, *故事会* (Story Meeting). The album art adopted the style of old movie posters and paid tribute to the classic magazine of the same name, telling stories of ordinary people through diverse musical forms. In 2020, they participated in the second season of the iQiyi variety show *The Big Band*. They were eliminated twice but revived twice, ultimately finishing in second place (Hot 2) in the finals. On August 18 of the same year, they released the yin-yang dual albums *一半真情流露，一半靠表演* (Half True Feelings Revealed, Half Relying on Performance) and *活鱼逆流而上，死鱼随波逐流* (Live Fish Swim Upstream, Dead Fish Drift with the Current), fully introducing brass instruments and fusing various types of music. In 2025, their latest album, *地球恋曲* (Earth Love Song), was released online. This is Wu Tiao Ren's eighth studio album and the first concept album from their self-founded label, "Plastic Bag Music." Since 2008, Wu Tiao Ren has held the "Wu Tiao Ren Returns to Haifeng Concert" in their hometown of Haifeng every Spring Festival. The audience started at around a hundred people and grew to six or seven hundred by 2015. However, the local cultural bureau did not approve the "Return to Haifeng" concert in the Spring Festival of 2016. Wu Tiao Ren conducted their first national tour in 2010. They held a winter tour in 2013. They frequently appeared on music festival stages in 2020, and conducted large-scale national tours in 2017–2019 and 2022–2024. At the end of 2023, Wu Tiao Ren began their US tour under the name "CantonExpress," and between 2023 and 2025, they completed three "Grand Era Cabaret" concerts in Guangzhou, Beijing, and Shanghai. In August 2025, Wu Tiao Ren launched the "Earth Love Song" theater tour, which concluded perfectly.