A series of vibrant folk culture celebrations unfolded across multiple locations in southwest China's Sichuan Province, featuring colorful parades, garden parties, and interactive performances that drew large crowds and immersed participants in a joyful festive atmosphere to welcome the Chinese New Year.
In Wusheng County, Guang'an City, a lively Chinese New Year parade has kicked off to the rhythmic beat of festive gongs and drums. Six parade teams, made up of 500 performers and highlighting themes such as the Chinese zodiac and martial arts, presented various traditional folk arts including lion and dragon dances.
Their performances breathed new life into time-honored customs, captivating locals of all ages who gathered to watch.
"The parade really showcases people's spirit and energy. It's also wonderful to see children enjoying themselves and taking part in this kind of event," said Xiao Jian, a local resident.
The New Year festive atmosphere is equally vibrant in Danling County, Meishan City. A colorful array of folk performances took the stage in succession, while engaging interactive games attracted large crowds of local residents and tourists.
Long queues formed in front of booths offering traditional games including touhu (a traditional Chinese game also known as pitch-pot), koi fish catching, and bell striking. Residents derived great pleasure from taking part in these interactive hands-on activities, while expressing their hopes for a peaceful, prosperous, and joyful new year.
"Wishing everyone good luck in the Year of the Horse and a very happy Spring Festival," said Yang Xiaojing, a performer.
"I'm really happy. There's such a wide range of activities. I came with my baby, and we both feel the festive spirit -- it's so lively and joyful," said a local resident, Shi Jingru.
Meanwhile, at the Huanglongxi ancient town in Chengdu City, tourists were treated to an immersive New Year adventure experience. They could explore the ancient town and try out various special games, earning "silver notes" (credit instruments backed by silver in ancient China) upon completing each challenging task, which could then be exchanged for gifts.
This creative arrangement allowed tourists to deeply appreciate the ancient town's charm through interactive exploration.
"It's so engaging that we are reluctant to leave -- we just want to stay and keep playing. The activities are really fun and encourage a lot of participation," said Su Shan, a tourist.
At night, the ancient town revealed its most spectacular offering: molten iron flower performance, a traditional Chinese folk art preserved as a national intangible cultural heritage. Streams of scorching, glowing liquid iron cascaded down from above, transforming into a sky full of sparkling meteors, extending the joyful New Year atmosphere late into the night.
In Lushan County, Ya'an City, an event highlighting "Lushan Lanterns," a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage item with more than 2,000 years of history, kicked off on Tuesday.
Originating in the Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 220) and reaching its peak during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), this distinctive Nuo opera tradition combines theatrical performance with rituals aimed at exorcising evil spirits and invoking blessings.
This year's Spring Festival holiday saw the local community incorporate this folk performance into New Year celebrations, pairing it with lion dances and magic shows to bring intangible cultural heritage closer to the people -- letting them experience tradition not just as spectators, but through shared joy.
"The Lushan Lanterns are simply magnificent. Joining in the lively twisting dances brought great joy to everyone," said Zhu Zemei, a tourist.
"I've watched these performances when I was a child, and seeing them again today evokes not only the lively festivity but also something more: a profound sense of belonging, of coming home," said Yang Jinyue, a local resident.
Various folk activities held across China's Sichuan Province to celebrate Spring Festival
