Rolling lamp performance fascinates viewers during Spring Festival

The rolling lamp performance, a Chinese intangible cultural heritage with a history of over 800 years, is fascinating audiences in east China's Hangzhou City during the Spring Festival holiday with its vibrant appeal.

A rolling lamp consists of two layers, each featuring a bamboo ball. Once the outer layer is woven, a bamboo tube with a lighted candle is secured within the smaller ball. The ingenious design ensures that the bamboo tube always stays upright no matter how the lamp is tilted, preventing the candle flame from extinguishing.

Historically, rolling lamps were quite large, with diameters exceeding one meter and weighing over 100 kilograms.

To accommodate the demands of today's performances, the rolling lamp has gradually evolved into a more "compact" form: the larger version now measures 90 centimeters in diameter while the smaller one is about 30 centimeters.

"If anyone is willing to learn how to create rolling lamps, I will definitely teach them, so that we can craft rolling lamps together and pass on this intangible cultural heritage," said Chen Tianxiang, a craftsman and representative inheritor of rolling lamp craftwork.

In Linping District of Hangzhou, a rolling lamp performance celebrating the Spring Festival drew many viewers, immersing them in the enchanting allure of this intangible cultural heritage.

"This is my first time watching rolling lamp performance. I found it truly amazing and very technically challenging," said Wang Jie, a viewer.

"I think it's fantastic. It's very vibrant and lively and demonstrates a traditional Chinese New Year atmosphere," said Li Hailian, another viewer.

Nowadays, most of the female performers use small lamps with a diameter of over 30 centimeters. The introduction of these smaller lamps has facilitated performances.

"We will preserve the traditional techniques and integrate new elements, attracting more enthusiasts to join our team in passing on the intangible cultural heritage of rolling lamp together," said Kang Jianming, a rolling lamp performer.

The Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, fell on Jan 29, marking the first day of the Year of the Snake, the 6th in the cycle of 12 zodiac animals on the Chinese calendar. In 2025, the Spring Festival holiday is extended by one day to eight days from Jan 28 to Feb 4.

Rolling lamp performance fascinates viewers during Spring Festival

People in Yemen are struggling for survival as the country continues to grapple with a deepening labor crisis after more than a decade of war, with many lamenting the lack of opportunities which are leaving the livelihoods of many hanging in the balance.

As the world marks International Workers' Day on Friday, the situation in Yemen seems all the more poignant as millions of people are finding it increasingly hard to find any work at all.

In the crowded streets of the capital Sana'a, workers gather on street corners, waiting for jobs that may never come. Ahmed Muawadah is one of the many who are sitting here, watching passing cars, desperately hoping that one will stop and offer work.

"Our suffering is that we sit here without work. Sometimes we spend a whole month without working, except for one day, or just one day every two weeks. Work is very limited, almost non-existent. I have nine children, and I only work one day a month. I cannot support them. Jobs have completely disappeared. If opportunities were opened for us, I and all the workers would work," said Muawadah.

This individual story reflects a broader reality affecting an estimated eight million workers across Yemen. Many of them are hoping to receive a daily wage, but the challenges are mounting in an increasingly strained labor market.

Activity in key sectors such as construction and services has dropped sharply, largely due to the suspension of several international initiatives, including those backed by the World Bank. As a result, income opportunities have narrowed for those who rely primarily on daily wages.

Meanwhile, the widening impact of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and the disruption caused along the key Strait of Hormuz -- a key shipping route for global trade -- has brought more misery in recent weeks.

"There has been a significant decline in business activity as a result of the war, the blockade, and the disruption of work. Foreign capital has also left the country, and large companies have moved out of Yemen and stopped their operations. This is one of the main reasons," said Abdul Karim Al, secretary general of the General Federation of Trade Unions in Sana'a.

Yemen residents struggling to survive as work dries up amid deepening labor crisis