On the evening of October 6, under the autumn moon, Huidong County's Gaotan Town in Huizhou City celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival with a unique century-old tradition—a dragon dance. The event drew over a thousand local residents and tourists, featuring two main forms of dragon parades and a "passing under the dragon" ritual for good fortune.
The straw "fire dragon" parades through the streets accompanied by firecrackers and fireworks
As dusk fell, the straw dragon from Huangkeng Village took the lead. Carefully woven from rice straw and decorated with red ribbons, the "fire dragon" was brought to life in a traditional eye-dotting ceremony before parading through the town's main streets. Along the route, locals set off firecrackers and held incense to welcome the dragon and pray for blessings.
After nightfall, the cloth dragon from Zhailin Village emerged. Adorned with LED lights, it glided through the dark like a "dragon playing with a pearl," accompanied by a lively procession of musicians, lion dancers, and girls carrying lanterns. Crowds gathered to watch and take photos as the two dragons eventually met in the town square, creating a spectacular scene.
A highlight of the night was the "passing under the dragon" ritual. As the dragons paused during their parade, visitors and locals lined up to walk beneath the dragon's body—a symbolic gesture believed to bring good luck in the year ahead.
With origins dating back to the late Qing Dynasty, Gaotan's Mid-Autumn dragon dance has been practiced for more than a hundred years. It reflects local gratitude for the harvest and hopes for future prosperity, serving as a vivid cultural tradition that continues to connect generations.
Reporter｜Wu Tianyu
Photo｜Publicity Department of Gaotan County
Editor｜Wei Shen, James Campion, Shen He
