Gongs and drums are noisy, firecrackers are ringing in unison, and hundreds of colorful dragons are shuttling through the streets and alleys, sending auspicious and blessed ...... to thousands of householdsOn February 20, in Binyang County, Guangxi, which has the reputation of "the hometown of China's cannon dragon", the annual "Cannon Dragon Festival" was held as scheduled.
The "Cannon Dragon Festival", which has a history of 1,000 years, is held every year on the 11th day of the first lunar month, including the play-color stand, lantern festival, cannon dragon dance and other activities. In 2008, this folk activity was included in the national list of intangible cultural heritage.
The reporter saw in Binyang County on the evening of the 20th that the dragon dance officially began. Some of the dragon dancers wear rattan hats and traditional yellow dragon dance costumes; Others go into battle shirtless and bravely dance dragons to the sound of firecrackers.
Lu Qingyuan, a 24-year-old dragon dancer, said he started participating in this folk activity at the age of 16 and was very proud to be a dragon dancer.
On February 20, in the Cannon Dragon Cultural Square in Binyang County, Guangxi, people danced the Cannon Dragon at the "Cannon Dragon Festival". Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Boan Under the wave of the dragon dancers, long dragons tossed up and down in the smoke, lifelike. Wherever the dragon went, families greeted each other and set off the firecrackers they had prepared in advance, praying for prosperity in the new year. Zou Yute, who lives in Binyang County, said.
Zou Yute, 70 years old this year, is the representative inheritor of Guangxi's intangible cultural heritage project and the third generation of artillery dragon making artists in his family. "Tying the cannon dragon is a time-consuming and energy-consuming manual work, only the faucet has more than 1,000 ** points, and a cannon dragon often requires the cooperation of many people for half a month to complete the tie-up. ”
Zou Yute said that with the support of the local people, the culture of the cannon dragon has been well inherited, and the craft of making the cannon dragon has been passed down from generation to generation, and some young people have also participated in it. In addition to the traditional cannon dragon, it also extends a series of cultural and creative products with the cannon dragon as the carrier.
Nowadays, Binyang County has become a sea of joy and boiling in the annual "Cannon Dragon Festival", attracting tourists from all over the world to participate in this carnival feast.
On February 20, in the Cannon Dragon Cultural Square in Binyang County, Guangxi, people danced the Cannon Dragon at the "Cannon Dragon Festival". Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Boan "The scene of watching the dragon dance at the scene is really shocking! Liu Xiaoxia, a tourist from Foshan, Guangdong, said. (Reporter Lei Jiaxing).