Fire Dragon Lantern Festival Held in Xiangxiang County

As the Lantern Festival approaches, the Fire Dragon Lantern Festival has been held in Hutian Town, Xiangxiang City. At dusk, over twenty dragon dance performers shouted in unison while lighting pine resin oil lamps that burned with intense heat, one after the other. Instantly, the illuminated dragon crouched low like a submerged river serpent and leaped skyward like a phoenix reborn from flames. Children followed closely behind, carrying festive lanterns and revolving lanterns. Local residents traditionally celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year through this vibrant spectacle, praying for favorable weather, bumper harvest, and shared prosperity in the year ahead.

The Fire Dragon Lantern Festival is a traditional folk cultural event that has been carried forward for hundreds of years in Hutian Town, Xiangxiang City. Unlike other dragon dances, the Hutian Fire Dragon Dance features candles inserted into the dragon ball, dragon head, dragon segments, and dragon tail, giving the entire fire dragon a fierce and vibrant appearance.

To continue this traditional folk activity, the local people adhere to the inheritance philosophy of "passing on skills from the experienced to the young" and has established a Fire Dragon Lantern Association. This initiative has breathed new life into the ancient craft.

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Xiao Juan

Chinese source: Chinanews

Video source: Xiangxiang City Integrated Media Center