Dragon dance ready to strike for Lantern Festival

Residents in Taijiang county, Southwest China's Guizhou Province practice for the dragon dance in red costumes on Feb 25. [Photo by Yang Wenbin/xinhuanet.com.cn]

Miao people in Taijiang county, Southwest China's Guizhou Province have recently been preparing to stage a dragon dance as the Lantern Festival is around the corner, xinhuanet.com reported on Feb 25.

Dragon dancing is a tradition among the Miao people of the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture with a history dating back hundreds of years. Known as the "festival for the brave", the Taijiang-featured dragon dance is performed by a team of 20 people manipulating a long dragon and prancing in the shower of fireworks.

Residents sew the head of the dragon to its body in Taijiang county, Southwest China's Guizhou Province on Feb 25. [Photo by Yang Wenbin/xinhuanet.com.cn]

Lot of efforts is needed for the annual revelry, including the hand making of the dragon, decorating with colorful paper ornaments and timeless practicing to give a flexible performance.

The extravaganza will be saluted by deafening gongs and drums during the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated on the 15th day of the first month on the Chinese lunar calendar, to extend people's good wishes to embrace a jubilant year.

Children join in the dragon dance practice with excitement. [Photo by Liu Kaifu/xinhuanet.com.cn]