Folk art performances fascinate viewers in anticipation of Lantern Festival

Folk art performances, including spectacular "Fire Dragon Dance" performances, have recently been staged in China, in anticipation of the Lantern Festival on February 12 at the very end of this year's entire traditional Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year celebrations, showcasing regional folk culture and fostering a strong festive atmosphere.

In Kaijiang County of southwest China's Sichuan Province, a "Fire Dragon Dance" performance filled with the charm of local folk culture took place last Saturday evening, drawing tens of thousands of spectators.

A group of male performers energetically swung the dragon's body, while folk artists performed iron fireworks by throwing molten iron into the air to create showers of sparks. Set against the night sky, it seemed as if the dragon was dancing through the flying sparks, giving rise to a stunning scene.

"The performance was really amazing. I stayed home waiting for it and only went outside when it started," said a local resident named Li Qicai.

"The 'Fire Dragon Dance' in Kaijiang County is really spectacular, and I wish everyone a prosperous Chinese New Year," said Wang Li, another resident.

Dragon dances have been documented at ceremonial events in China since the Han Dynasty (202 BC to 220 AD). Today, fire dragon dances take place all over the country as part of Spring Festival festivities, but performances in different regions may vary in shapes and forms.

On Monday, Handan City in north China's Hebei Province hosted a grand parade and display in the run-up to the Lantern Festival. The event fascinated viewers and provided visitors with a feast of unique local folk culture.

Amid the rhythmic sounds of gongs and drums, local folk art performances such as the reed lantern display and the "phoenix and dragon dances" were presented, conveying blessings for a more prosperous life in the Chinese New Year.

"I'm especially accompanying my little grandson to see this grant event here in anticipation of the Lantern Festival. I am so happy," said Yang Aijun, a local resident.

The reed lantern display, which originated in a local village and has a rich history, features lanterns with vibrant colors and intricate decorations, accompanied by unique and lively performances. Notably, young students also joined the festive performance team this year, which reflects the continuation of this cultural heritage across generations.

"This year, we incorporated elements of the Year of the Snake and Handan's idiomatic culture into our performance. We also included a team of elementary school students, hoping that the involvement of the young generation will contribute to the continuation of our cultural heritage, the reed lantern display," said Shi Xiuli, a performer.

The 15th day of the first month on the Chinese lunar calendar marking the year's first full moon has been celebrated as the Lantern Festival in China for more than 2,000 years. The Lantern Festival marks the end of the annual Chinese New Year celebrations.

Folk art performances fascinate viewers in anticipation of Lantern Festival

Folk art performances fascinate viewers in anticipation of Lantern Festival

Folk art performances fascinate viewers in anticipation of Lantern Festival

Folk art performances fascinate viewers in anticipation of Lantern Festival

China's electricity consumption, a key barometer of economic activity, rose six percent year on year in April, official data showed Tuesday.

Power use totaled 820.5 billion kilowatt-hours last month, according to the National Energy Administration.

A breakdown of the data showed that power consumed by the primary industry rose 2 percent year on year to 11.2 billion kilowatt-hours, while power consumed by the secondary industry increased 5.3 percent to 558.4 billion kilowatt-hours.

Within the secondary industry, industrial power use rose 5.5 percent year on year to 553.8 billion kilowatt-hours, while electricity consumption by high-tech equipment manufacturing climbed 10.1 percent to 105 billion kilowatt-hours.

Power used by the tertiary industry reached 151.7 billion kilowatt-hours in April, up 8.9 percent year on year. The charging and battery swapping service sector and internet data services reported rapid growth in electricity consumption, rising 61.9 percent and 42.8 percent, respectively.

Electricity consumption by residents rose 6 percent from a year earlier to 99.2 billion kilowatt-hours.

In the first four months of the year, China's total power use exceeded 3.33 trillion kilowatt-hours, up 5.4 percent year on year, the data showed.

China's power use up 6 pct in April