A man from Zhoushan perfoms at the gala in Hangzhou. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

A Spring Festival gala took place in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province on Jan 20.

Hosted by the Zhejiang publicity department, Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture and Zhejiang Radio & TV Group, the gala invited 15 groups from cities around the province to perform for the public to welcome the approaching Chinese New Year.

"The performances are directed by and staged for villagers." said Zhang Xiaofeng, the general director of the gala. Distinctive songs, dances, operas and comedy sketches were performed by more than 300 villagers. Intangible cultural heritages from Zhejiang were also displayed during the gala.

A fisherman's work song from Zhoushan, an island city in the province, was artistically staged, reproducing a fishing scene and praising the diligence of Zhoushan citizens. A dance performance was given by people from the Xihu district of Hangzhou city. Featuring horses made of bamboo, the performance displayed the charm of Hangzhou's traditional folk culture.