Dragon dancers on the streets of Qianyuan in east China's Zhejiang province are creating a carnival spirit for visitors to celebrate the Lantern Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar, or March 3 this year.
The dragon dance performances date back to the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), with 12 dragon dance teams from various villages gathering to perform this year, dancing to crashing drums and gongs as they parade through the streets.
"I've been watching dragon dances since I was a child, and now I'm bringing my daughter here. The moment the dragon dance starts, you can truly feel the festive spirit," said Qian Fangfang, a visitor.
"I find it very impressive to witness this intangible cultural heritage being passed on from the older generation to the younger ones," said Xie Xiaofen, another visitor.
Dance troupes in Qianyuan began the revival of traditional dragon dancing in 2000, and the dance was officially recognized as a representative intangible cultural heritage in Zhejiang in 2009.
"We inherited the dragon dance tradition from the time of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). What we carry forward is not only the skill of making and performing the dance, but also a hope for a better life. Young people are also joining the lantern festival every year," said Yao Jie, a dragon dancer.
This year's celebrations also featured a night fair, where residents and visitors could enjoy yuanxiao (glutinous rice flour dumpling with sweetened stuffing), try their hand at traditional crafts, and immerse themselves in traditional culture.
"Seeing the lanterns adorning the streets and everyone's smiling faces, I truly feel the meaning of reunion," said Zhao Dexiang, a visitor.
Zhejiang town celebrates Lantern Festival with dragon dance performances
