Shanghai Happy Valley stages Spring Festival fair

LMS
chinadaily.com.cn| Updated: January 22, 2017

Shanghai Happy Valley, a popular amusement park in Shanghai's Songjiang district, will stage a large-scale Spring Festival fair to celebrate the approaching Chinese Lunar New Year.

Red lanterns hanging in Shanghai Happy Valley create a new year atmosphere. [Photo/sheshantravel.gov.cn]

In addition to the lantern show, Chinese intangible cultural heritage performances will be presented for 15 consecutive days beginning with the first day of the Lunar New Year (Jan 28). Performances will include Jiangzhou drum music from middle China's Shanxi province, lion and dragon dances from Shanghai's Sanlin town and much, much more!

Jiangzhou, hailed as China's home of percussion, has been a region well-known for its style of drumming since the early Tang Dynasty (618-907). Drumming culture has since become an integral part of life there.

Jiangzhou drum music originated during the Qin Dynasty (221-207BC), and became popular in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.

Huaqiao drumming is one of the most representative styles of Jiangzhou drum music. One ensemble consists of different kinds of drums. At present there are more than ten preserved drumming skills, including beating the edge of the drum, 'lashing' the surface of the drum and 'knocking' drum rings.

Sanlin Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe, one of Shanghai's most well-known dance troupes, first began performing in 1994. They regularly participate in international lion and dragon dance championships as well as delivering performances for holiday festivals throughout China.

Sanlin Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe is one of Shanghai's most well-known dance troupes. [Photo/sheshantravel.gov.cn]

A living sculpture performance showcasing Shanghai's features, brilliant fireworks and global snacks will also be presented to visitors during the Spring Festival.