Performers in folk costumes present the horse dance in Qingtian county. [Photo/cctv.com]

A special horse dance was presented on Feb 5 by a group of folk performers in Haikou town in Qingtian county, located in East China's Zhejiang province, to celebrate the traditional Lantern Festival.

Dressed in colorful costumes, dancers rode on horse-shaped props made of bamboo and swayed left and right to the dynamic music.

The horse dance, an intangible cultural heritage item with a history of more than 700 years, has its origins in South China's Guangdong province. Similar folk dances can also be seen in the northern part of China.

The horse dance in Qingtian has its own style and audience. Every time it's due to be staged, villagers in Qingtian always show loads of interest.

Children show lanterns of different shapes at the Lantern Festival. [Photo/cctv.com]

A variety of cultural activities was also presented across the county last weekend in celebration of the Lantern Festival.