On the night of the Lantern Festival, Puzhai Town in Fengshun County, Meizhou City, Guangdong Province, hosted the nationally recognized intangible cultural heritage (ICH) performance of the Puzhai Fire Dragon. Despite a light drizzle, large crowds gathered at Fire Dragon Square to witness the spectacle.
Performers carried the dragon on poles, moving in coordination with the sound of gongs and drums as fireworks were set off along its body, sending sparks into the night sky. The event also featured lantern processions, including carp, shrimp and fish lanterns. In celebration of the 2026 Year of the Horse, steed lanterns were also introduced.
The Puzhai Fire Dragon tradition dates back to 1741 and has been preserved by the Zhang clan of the local Hakka community. The performance is staged each Lantern Festival to pray for favorable weather, good harvests and prosperity.
In recent decades, the Puzhai Fire Dragon has been featured by domestic and international media. In 2008, it was inscribed into the first batch of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
Author | He Fengyu
Video/Photo | Nanfang Plus
