Guizhou launches vibrant Lantern Festival activities

People in Taijiang county perform dragon dances to celebrate the Lantern Festival. [Photo/ddcpc website]

As the Year of the Snake Lantern Festival approaches, cultural and tourism events across Guizhou province in Southwest China continue to flourish, maintaining the vibrant atmosphere of Chinese New Year celebrations.

This year, the Lantern Festival in Guizhou will feature over 1,000 unique activities across various scenic spots.

On Feb 10, Dade village in Taijiang county was bustling with people, immersing in the festive Lantern Festival atmosphere. Here, a solemn dragon-raising ceremony took place.

The ceremony is a significant part of Taijiang's dragon dance and firework traditions during the Lantern Festival. This ritual emphasizes driving away evil and welcoming good fortune, embodying people's aspirations for a better life.

In Guiyang, the 2025 Guanshanhu Lantern Festival and Temple Fair, Tianhetan Happy Lantern Festival Reunion Night, Confucius Academy Lantern Festival Carnival, and Yunyan 2025 Lantern Festival Intangible Cultural Heritage Carnival have become popular tourist attractions.

For this year's Lantern Festival, various regions in Guizhou have upgraded their intangible cultural heritage displays from exhibitions to immersive experiences, allowing visitors to savor a rich cultural feast right on their doorstep.

Yuping Dong autonomous county held a Xiaodi (a vertical bamboo flute of the Dong ethnic group) concert to welcome the Lantern Festival. The county also hosted square dances incorporating local original music, Xiaodi playing, and Chinese drums, celebrating the Lantern Festival with song and dance.