Preface

The Spring Festival is the grandest traditional fete of the Chinese people, and an important holiday for family reunion and pleasure sharing. Dragon dance, a lively and jubilant traditional custom, is among the most occasional activities during the Spring Festival.

Dragon dance is commonly known as playing dragon lanterns. Dragon dancers jump up with various moves of spring, twist, wave and shake with colorful silk balls and in various forms of golden dragon, fiery dragon, dragon lantern, dragon boat, etc.; flexible moves and splendid colors best highlight the festival atmosphere.

Dragon dance is also an important show event among the Spring Festival activities throughout the world. Dragon parades at home and abroad, in different looks and expression forms, all demonstrate the hilarious festival atmosphere and bring joy to people all around the world.

1. Fiery Dragon Dance Photo by Li Xiaobin

A fiery dragon dance performance is held in Puzhai Town, Fengshun County, Guangdong. When the fiery dragon dancers are dancing led by a colorful silk ball, there are full of dazzling sparks, amplifying the joyous festival.

2. Dragon Dance Celebrates Spring Festival Photo by Ai Jiaxian

In Gexianshan Village, Pengzhou, Sichuan, the villagers are performing dragon dance to celebrate the Spring Festival.

3. Two Dragons Play with A Pearl Photo by Chu Chengsheng

A grand dragon dance performance is held on the Lantern Festival on lunar 15^th January in Qingyang County, Chizhou, Anhui.

4. Ancient Town Langzhong Celebrates Spring Festival Photo by Yang Xiuqiong

Traditional dragon and lion dances are performed by a Sichuan provincial troupe at the ancient town of Langzhong to celebrate the Spring Festival.

5. Dragon Dance in Water Photo by Huang Jianjun

People are performing a unique dragon dance in water in the Pan Village Lantern Festival in Shuikou Town, Kaiping, Guangdong.

6. Feverish Golden Dragon Photo by Guo Guangling

A dragon dance performance with flexible walks and glittering looks brightens up Sanlin OId Street, Pudong, Shanghai.

7. Charming Dragon Dance Photo by Du Chunsen

During the Spring Festival, people pour into the street to appreciate the bustling atmosphere of dragon dances.

8. Fiery Dragon Dance Photo by Lu Tao

People are striking red hot irons to produce sparks and performing dragon dance to celebrate the Spring Festival at the ancient town of Taierzhuang, Zaozhuang, Shandong.

9. Firecracker Dragon Dance Celebrates Spring Festival Photo by Chen Jianzeng

Binyang Firecracker Dragon Festival is an annual festival event held in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and the photo shows the scene when “firecracker dragons” are giving New Year’s greetings to households.

10. Dragon Dance Celebrates Spring Festival Photo by Tang Shunfu

In Shaodong, Hunan, a dragon dance team with 108 young performers is performing in the township park to celebrate the Spring Festival.

11. Fireworks Welcome Golden Dragon Photo by Zeng Weizhen

In the dragon dance event held in Jiangmen, Guangdong, roars of drums and fireworks are following, offering strong atmosphere of the Spring Festival.

12. Dragon Dance Celebrates Spring Festival in Ancient Town Langzhong Photo by Hua Xiaofeng

In ancient town of Langzhong, Sichuan, under the Zhongtian Tower and along rows of old houses, a golden dragon dance performance is held to celebrate the Spring Festival.

13. Colored Dragon Dance Celebrates Lantern Festival Photo by Li Peixian

In the celebration of the Lantern Festival in Jiyuan, Henan, colored dragons in good and dignified spirits bring festival joy to people.

14. Dragon and Lion Dances Jointly Celebrate Spring Festival Photo by Huang Jianjun

In the Pan Village Lantern Festival held in Shuikou Town, Kaiping, Guangdong, with colored flags sufficient to cover the sun,endless sounds of firecrackers, and festival lanterns and artistic umbrellas, dragon and lion dances are being performed from dawn till dusk.

15. Bench Dragon Dance Photo by Huang Ying

In the festival celebration held in Shangrao County, Jiangxi, the villagers are lifting the bench dragon around the streets to welcome the advent of the Lantern Festival.

16. Dragon Festival Lanterns Celebrate Spring Festival Photo by Liu Debin

A Spring Festival lantern parade is held in Golden Pebble Beach, Dalian, Liaoning. Giant dragon festival lanterns and dragon dance performances enhance each other. People appreciate festival lanterns and traditional customs, and are immersed in the the bustling and joyous atmosphere of the Spring Festival.

17. Dance of Auspicious Dragons In Pairs Photo by Zeng Yong

In Qicaimengyuan Park, Tongliang District, Chongqing, dragon dance performances are held to celebrate the Spring Festival. Dragon boats are in pairs and dragon dance teams perform together, bringing exquisite visual feasts to citizens.

18. Rolling Dragon Dance Celebrates Spring Festival Photo by Zhang Lei

In the ancient county of Zhaiying, Guizhou, people weave dragon heads and keels with bamboo splits, and lighten the dragon spills to celebrate the Spring Festival.

19. Dragon Boat and Festival Lantern Photo by Lin Zhidao

In Lishui County, Foshan, Guangdong, water dragon dance performances are held to celebrate the Chinese New Year before and after the Spring Festival. Dragon boats in water symbolize that people will be with vigorous spirit and everything will go well in the new year.

20. Dragon Dance Celebrates Spring Festival Photo by Li Xiangjie

In the activity of sedan chair lifting during the Lantern Festival in Yueyang, Hunan, the dragon-shaped colored lantern boats with red lanterns add happy atmosphere to the joyous festival.

21. Happy Chinese New Year in Argentina Photo by Martín Zabala

The dragon dance in celebrating Chinese New Year brings joy to people in Chinatown, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

22. Flying Golden Dragon Photo by Wong Chek Poh

Chingay Parade is a main event to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival in Singapore, and also one of the largest parades in Asia. The Flying Golden Dragon show, one of the parade’s highlights, draws a large crowd.

Spring Festival Dragon Dance Photo by Meng Xiaodong

A group of African students show off their skills at the Spring Festival Dragon Dance Contest in Wuhan, Hubei.