Longtaitou Festival falls on the second day of the second month in the Chinese lunar calendar, and signifies the beginning of spring and the farming season. Longtaitou, literally meaning "dragon raises its head", indicates that animals have awoken from hibernation and the spring rains are set to come.
On this day, there are many interesting customs. For example, people usually get a haircut for good luck, and children get haircuts in hopes of healthy growth. Many foods are named after dragon body parts to mark the festival -- Noodles are called the dragon's beard, and dumplings are called dragon's ears and spring rolls are called dragon's scales.
Our host Aria visited the ancient Jinzhou streets to delve into their unique cultural essence. She discovered that calligraphy, dough modeling, and paper-cutting skills are being well preserved. By preserving these skills, people express their love and aspiration for a better life. At the same time, these intangible cultural heritages serve as bridges connecting the past with the future, allowing more people to understand and carry forward China's traditional culture.
