Baotou goes all out for Lantern Festival

An Ansai waist drum performance is staged on Feb 19. The instrument is used as part of a folk dance which originated in Shaanxi province. The dance can be performed by a few people or many thousands. In 1996, Ansai district in Yan'an city was named as the hometown of Chinese waist drums by the Ministry of Culture. [Photo/Baotou Daily]

Children select dough models as part of Lantern Festival celebrations in Baotou, Feb 19. Baotou dough modeling is a traditional folk art originating in Shanxi province. It uses polished glutinous rice dough, painted with different colors, which is then shaped by hand as well as with some simple tools. The folk art has been listed as part of Baotou's traditional cultural heritage since June 2012. [Photo/Baotou Evening News]