Holiday celebrations to focus on culture, heritage

The Silk Road Culture and Art Center Square in Zhangye, Gansu province, came alive with dragon and lion dances on Jan 13, to mark the upcoming Spring Festival.

A wide range of intangible cultural heritage displays and related activities are already being planned, including folk performances, handicraft works exhibitions, and traditional food, topped off with a light show, to deliver a wonderful cultural feast to visitors.

The event, which run until Feb 14, is co-sponsored by the Gansu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and the Zhangye Municipal People's Government.

Dragon dance is spotted in Zhangye, Gansu province, to welcome Spring Festival. [Photo by Cheng Lin]

Lion dance is presented to visitors in Zhangye, Gansu province. [Photo by Cheng Lin]

Holidaymakers enjoy shehuo, which can translate into temple fire, originally involved parades with lit lanterns and torches. [Photo by Cheng Lin]

Performers play the Taiping Drum. [Photo by Cheng Lin]

Some locals perform guozhuang, a favorite collective bonfire dance for Tibetans. [Photo by Cheng Lin]