Tonglu Stages Shen'ao Lion Dance to Herald Spring Festival

As the Spring Festival draws closer, Shen'ao Village in Jiangnan Town, Tonglu County, Zhejiang Province, is presenting a unique intangible cultural heritage lion dance – "lions playing with a silk ball overhead in Shen'ao" in front of its cultural auditorium, which is buzzing and receives a round of applause from the audience.

There were more than 50 performers at the scene, all of whom were from Shen'ao Village, including the majestic gong and drum troupe of over 30 women dressed in special costume. Radiant with enthusiasm, they played the gongs and drums for the lion dance.

It is reported that the performance of "lions playing with a silk ball overhead in Shen'ao" emerged in the late Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty and was derived from the sacrificial activities at old temple fairs in Shen'ao Village. Similar to the puppet show in the form, it was inscribed onto the third list of Zhejiang Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009.

Villagers in Shen'ao said that the village would give the performance during every festival, which not only adds to the lively atmosphere of the festival, but also expresses people's expectations for peace and prosperity for the country and the people.

The performance was in full swing and gradually reached its climax, attracting not only people at all ages who came back home for the Spring Festival, but also tourists from all over the country.

The performance of "lions playing with a silk ball overhead in Shen'ao" is a popular intangible cultural heritage activity and a precious folk art in the South of Yangtze River, so Shen'ao Village will pass it as one of its cultural symbols down from generation to generation, according to Shentu Xiaoshan, person-in-charge of the Shen'ao Village Elderly Association.