As the Chinese New Year approaches, traditional folk performances and intangible cultural heritage products are seeing a surge in popularity across China, adding a vibrant cultural touch to the festive atmosphere.
In Xianning City, central China’s Hubei Province, the dragon dance performance recently made its 2026 debut in local Village. This local tradition, boasting a history of over 270 years and passed down through nine generations, sees villagers welcoming the "dragon" with firecrackers to pray for good fortune.
"Welcoming the 'dragon' into our homes and having it stay for a while is our way of praying for a bountiful harvest and for everything to go smoothly in the coming year," said Liu Jun, a local resident.
In northern China’s Shanxi Province, the tradition of making "hua mo," steamed flower buns, remains a staple of the holiday. At a steamed flower bun workshop in Wenxi County, shop owner Fan Shubo has been busy making buns that integrate horse-themed designs, and blend traditional techniques with auspicious symbols for the new year.
"With the Spring Festival just around the corner, we have prepared 'Year of the Horse' gift sets. For example, this piece features small horses forming the numbers '2026.' The colors are vibrant," said Fan.
In east China's Anhui Province, at a handicraft company in Linquan County of Fuyang City, artisans are fully focused on creating gourd pyrography, a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage of Anhui. This year, horse-themed patterns have taken center stage in all their creations.
The combination of traditional craftsmanship and the zodiac theme has made these products an instant hit on the market. Her company has already received orders for 300,000 pieces, with the production schedule fully booked through late February.
"The horse carries a very positive meaning in Chinese culture. We designed these patterns to reflect that upward momentum. Our products are selling exceptionally well both online and offline. We are currently stepping up our creation and production to meet the demand of these orders," Han said.
Folk customs gain popularity across China as Spring Festival nears
