Dragon ceremony a unique way to mark Lantern Festival
2021-02-24
On Feb 23, a 130-meter-long decorated dragon made of wooden benches is paraded on the street in Yaokou village, Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/Xinhua]
A dragon, connected by 58 benches and held by over 100 local women, dances to the rhythm of gongs and drums in the village to celebrate the Lantern Festival.
The Yaokou Bench Dragon ceremony, introduced from the north by traveling traders during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), has a history of more than 200 years. The benches, adorned with pavilions, birds and animals, historical figures and more, are uniquely decorated in the style of the mountain village.
On Feb 23, a 130-meter-long decorated dragon made of wooden benches is paraded on the street in Yaokou village, Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/Xinhua]
On Feb 23, a 130-meter-long decorated dragon made of wooden benches is paraded on the street in Yaokou village, Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/Xinhua]
On Feb 23, a 130-meter-long decorated dragon made of wooden benches is paraded on the street in Yaokou village, Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/Xinhua]
On Feb 23, a 130-meter-long decorated dragon made of wooden benches is paraded on the street in Yaokou village, Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/Xinhua]
On Feb 23, a 130-meter-long decorated dragon made of wooden benches is paraded on the street in Yaokou village, Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/Xinhua]
On Feb 23, a 130-meter-long decorated dragon made of wooden benches is paraded on the street in Yaokou village, Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/Xinhua]
On Feb 23, a 130-meter-long decorated dragon made of wooden benches is paraded on the street in Yaokou village, Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/Xinhua]
On Feb 23, a 130-meter-long decorated dragon made of wooden benches is paraded on the street in Yaokou village, Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/Xinhua]
