The Huangsha lion dance is staged at the pre-opening activities of the Hangzhou Asian Games on Sept 23. [Photo/WeChat account: tzfb001]

A number of folk performances, including the Huangsha lion dance and Taizhou Luantuan, were showcased at the pre-opening activities of the Hangzhou Asian Games on Sept 23.

Tracing its origins back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the Huangsha lion dance was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage item in 2006. The dance is known for its fusion of folk martial arts and traditional lion dance techniques.

Taizhou Luantan, previously known as Huangyan Luantan, is one of China's 318 opera varieties. In 2016, it was officially recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage item. The opera is performed in the Taizhou dialect using an accent common in Central China and is accompanied by instruments such as the flute, suona, gong, and drum.

The opening festivities also featured Hehe culture, which is considered one of the three major cultures in Zhejiang province, with Taizhou's Tiantai county believed to be its birthplace.