Led by senior inheritors, the villagers of Shangyuan Village work together to create the fire dragon.
From October 6 to 7, leaping fire dragons illuminated the night sky above Nanzhuang Town in Chancheng District, Foshan City. The traditional Mid-Autumn fire dragon dance was celebrated in several villages throughout the town, with Shangyuan Village hosting the most grandiose performance. The Shangyuan Fire Dragon Dance, an intangible cultural treasure of Guangdong Province, attracted a large number of participants and tourists due to its unique charm.
According to legend, more than 500 years ago, a plague broke out in Shangyuan Village, claiming countless lives. When the villagers were at a loss for what to do, an immortal appeared in their dreams and instructed them to create a fire dragon and parade it around the village on the evenings of the 15th and 16th days of the 8th lunar month to avert the disaster. This tradition has been passed down ever since.
Villagers insert incense sticks into the fire dragon to pray for blessings.
The fire dragon measures approximately 100 meters in length. There are 68 dragon-dancing poles, spaced about 1.5 meters apart, which not only stabilize the dragon's structure but also enable smooth dance movements. Two hundred trained villagers performed a combination of traditional and highly challenging movements.
Behind the fire dragon, teams of gauze dragons and floats adorned with various themes, such as "The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" and "The Four Great Beauties," followed. The procession concluded with a professional lion dance performance.
At this event, a new IP character named "Yuan Xiaolong" was introduced to promote the growth and appeal of intangible cultural heritage. Additionally, a cultural display area was created to link intangible cultural heritage with the market. A folk market featuring approximately 50 stalls showcased unique delicacies and "Yuan Xiaolong"-themed cultural and creative products.
Reporter: Lu Yao, Luo Zhanxian
Photo: Shangyuan Village Committee, Lu Yao
Editor: Wei Shen, James Campion, Shen He
