"It's wonderful! This is the first time I've seen molten iron fireworks!" a tourist surnamed Zhang said excitedly at a lantern show in Zhaohua Ancient town, Guangyuan, Sichuan province, on Jan 25.

Beautiful molten iron fireworks performances attract many visitors in Zhaohua Ancient townGuangyaun, Sichuan province. [Photo/share.gyxww.cn]

Four intangible heritage inheritors used crucibles to throw molten iron, which reaches temperatures of 1,600 degrees Celsius, and then beat it hard with special wooden boards. The burning iron was instantly sprinkled into the night sky and scattered in all directions. It's as dazzling as fireworks.

Beautiful molten iron fireworks performances attract many visitors in Zhaohua Ancient townGuangyaun, Sichuan province. [Photo/share.gyxww.cn]

"Although it's last for just 25 minutes, it's really worthwhile to see the live performance." Spiral, starry and other shapes of iron fireworks shone in the sky one after another, to the rapturous applause of visitors.

The show of Datiehua, or molten iron fireworks, has been a traditional performance during both Spring Festival and Lantern Festival in Zhaohua.

By using various kinds of metals, the performers can create a multicolored array of "flowers". Wearing special protective clothes and helmets, the bravest performers throw molten iron over their heads, creating an umbrella-shaped shower of sparks.

Beautiful molten iron fireworks performances attract many visitors in Zhaohua Ancient townGuangyaun, Sichuan province. [Photo/share.gyxww.cn]

Legend has it that in ancient times, blacksmiths used to throw hot molten iron against the cold walls during Lantern Festival. When the metal struck the walls, it exploded into a shower of sparks to scare demons away.

The molten iron fireworks performance will last until the sixth day of the first lunar month.