Now the question is – why (Picture: AsiaWire) A man can lift 22lbs of water using nothing but his eyelids.

Song Tao, 43, has been performing the very impressive and extremely painful-looking stunt on stage for the last 26 years.

The man, from Dongying in East China’s Shandong Province, has given the act the literal name of ‘eyelid bucket-lifting’.

And rather amazingly, he can lift two containers of water weighing 11lbs each, using metal buttons on his eyes.


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‘I used to be a dancer,’ Song said. ‘While performing in Guangxi, I met a teacher [who passed on the bucket-lifting skill].

‘I slept with the buttons on my eyes for half a year – then I was able to perform on stage.’



Song uses a homemade contraption which is made of two buttons, some string, and two metal hooks.

He attaches the buttons to his lids (Picture: AsiaWire) And lifts two buckets in his hands to show he’s not cheating (Picture: AsiaWire) (Now, extremely squeamish people need not read any further.)

He squeezes the big buttons under his eyelids – on top of his eyeballs – and attaches the other end to the string of the bucket handles.

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To make it clear that he’s not cheating by using his hands, he also lifts two other buckets in his hands.

Song explains: ‘I have to sterilise the buttons before every performance to prevent an eye infection. I tear up a little bit afterwards, but that’s about it.’

The local government has presented Song with a certificate honouring his skill, and he is hoping his performances can receive national-level recognition as an intangible cultural asset.