On February 13, the opening ceremony of the "Dragon and Lion Dance Festival 2025" took place at Chanxi Huanyu City in Zhangcha Street, Chancheng District, Foshan City. This event, organized by the Chinese Dragon and Lion Sports Association and the People's Government of Chancheng District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province, aimed to provide a platform for dragon and lion dance enthusiasts to showcase their talents through a combination of offline and online participation.
The sacred lion pilgrimage ceremony was held solemnly at the Zen Lion Sacred Realm in Liantang Village, Zhangcha. (Photo: Nanfang Plus)
A massive procession of over 300 participants, comprising villagers from 15 residential areas in Zhangcha, eight primary and secondary schools, and kindergartens, as well as members of the Chancheng District Dragon and Lion Dance and Dragon Boat Sports Association, formed various contingents. They embarked on a parade, drawing the attention of numerous residents and tourists who stopped to watch.
A notable highlight of the event was the cultural exchange between the intangible cultural heritage teams from Foshan and Liping County in Guizhou Province. The Foshan lion dance team and the Guizhou team came together on stage in a victorious "lion meeting," showcasing a cross-regional cultural exchange that not only promoted the dissemination of excellent traditional Chinese culture but also encouraged more people to work together as inheritors, promoters, and advocates of dragon and lion dance culture.
The breathtaking dragon and lion dances were a testament to the preservation of Chancheng's dragon and lion dance culture. It is worth mentioning that Zhangcha, as the source of the Fenjiang River, carries the rich history and cultural memory of Foshan. It is the birthplace of the San Shen Gung Lion Dance performance and is recognized as the first "Famous Town of Chinese Dragon and Lion Dance" in China. Zhangcha's dragon and lion dance teams have achieved remarkable success on both domestic and international stages, becoming a bright showcase for Foshan culture on the world stage.
Author | Feng Huiting
Editor | Wei Shen, James, Shen He
