An old photo of a Qingtian hundred-bird lantern dance in the 1980s [Photo by Guo Bingqiang]

The Qingtian hundred-bird lantern dance has a long history, with its origins believed to stretch back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It was included in the fourth batch of national representative intangible cultural heritages in 2014.

The dance is one of the most traditional and representative folk lantern dances in Qingtian county, in Lishui, Zhejiang province, as well as a rare folk traditional dance featuring birds, a performance theme in China. It is popular in the county, especially in Shankou town, where its inheritance and development has been exceptional.

The Qingtian hundred-bird lantern dance has been frequently staged in China and abroad, winning lots of honors. It has even been performed twice in Spain since 2000, where it was warmly welcomed and widely praised by local Chinese, overseas Chinese and international friends.