Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai

An art show at the Xincun Community of Cuixiang sub-district in Xiangzhou celebrated the Chinese lunar New Year in advance on Jan 27. Various song-and-dance and instrumental performances expressing the rich Lingnan (literally, "south of the five ridges") cultures, as well as free gourmet food, were on offer.

Some two thousand people took part in the show, enjoying the folk arts and a catwalk display of traditional Chinese costumes.

The show climaxed with a thrilling dragon dance performed by the members of the community's art club. Dragon dancing is particularly performed during Spring Festival. It involves performers in dragon costume taking coordinated and rhythmic steps to the music of loud gongs and drums, seeming to bring a dragon to life; in this case the creature was a full 18-m-long.

Famous local calligraphers were invited to write Spring Festival couplets, another tradition, near the stage with some lucky visitors able to take one home.

Residents were also served Lingnan-style snacks such as glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in Artemisia argyi or Chinese mugwort leaves, taro cake and pumpkin pies.

Visitors admire the art of calligraphic couplet writing and hope to take an example home.

Children wearing traditional festive red costumes play drums.

An 18-m dragon comes to life. [Photos courtesy WeChat Account (ID: zhxiangzhou)]