A 99-meter dragon marches on the road in Aojiang town, Pingyang county, Wenzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]
The Aojiang dragon dance folk culture festival commenced in Aojiang town, Pingyang county, Wenzhou, Zhejiang province on March 11. The day also marked the Eryueer Festival, which means "dragon raises head" in Chinese, is a traditional Chinese festival held on the second day of the second month in the Chinese lunar calendar.
This event, embodying vitality and the aspirations of the Pingyang people, saw the majestic Aojiang dragon, stretching an unprecedented 99 meters, spreading auspiciousness as it gracefully traversed the land.
Dating back over 400 years, the Aojiang dragon dance tradition was designated as a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage item in 2009 and elevated to national-level status in 2014. This year's dragon, weighing 3 metric tons and requiring the strength of over 260 men to lift, set a record for its length.
Gong Guangqiao, the craft's inheritor, shared that the Aojiang dragon represents the pinnacle of Wenzhou's traditional craftsmanship, incorporating bamboo weaving, paper cutting, painting, and calligraphy. Crafted from over 5,000 kilograms of bamboo, 1,200 meters of colored cloth, and 7,000 dragon scales, the dragon boat's creation took meticulous effort.
Furthermore, artisans ingeniously integrated modern technology to animate the dragon: a transmission system was installed to make the dragon's feet and tail move realistically, while its nose utilizes a water circulation system, spraying mist and water.
The Aojiang dragon dance not only serves as a symbol of Pingyang but also embodies the cultural spirit of its people, representing their aspirations for prosperity and safety.
