The Qingtian Townsmen Association in the Netherlands held a Mid-Autumn Festival gathering in Rotterdam on Oct 6, featuring a captivating Qingtian fish lantern dance performance.

Dancers perform the Qingtian fish lantern dance. [Photo/Tide News]

Dancers carrying colorful fish-shaped lanterns paraded into the venue, their lively movements and symbolic wishes for abundance and good fortune creating a festive atmosphere that delighted the audience.

The Qingtian fish lantern dance is one of the most iconic folk lantern dances in Qingtian county of Lishui, Zhejiang province. It combines traditional fishing culture with folk customs, possessing a unique artistic value, and was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage item in 2008.

Serving as a cultural bridge, the Qingtian fish lantern dance has frequently been performed overseas, appearing at events such as the Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy, and Chinese New Year celebrations in Brussels, Belgium.

International enthusiasts experience the Qingtian fish lantern dance. [Photo/Tide News]

To promote the dance abroad, the county launched the Qingtian Fish Lantern Going Global Project in 2023. So far, 12 sets of fish lanterns have been sent to countries including the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and Italy. The performance in Rotterdam utilized one of these sets.

The connection between the Qingtian fish lantern dance and the Netherlands dates back nearly 80 years. A historical photograph shows a fish lantern dance performance on a Dutch street in 1945, during victory celebrations after the World Anti-Fascist War and the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.

The association is now working to keep this tradition alive in the Netherlands by recruiting performers and inviting experienced advisors to provide guidance.