Shaoguan in northern Guangdong will light up the Lantern Festival on March 3 (the 15th day of the first lunar month) with a spectacular parade celebrating intangible cultural heritage (ICH). Starting at 8:00 p.m., the 2.1-kilometer procession will wind through the city's major landmarks, featuring 15 unique performance troupes and more than 1,000 participants in an immersive cultural experience.
Starting from Zhongshan Park (中山公园), the parade route will pass along Jiefang Road (解放路) and by Fengcai Tower (风采楼), before concluding at the Wedding Square on History East Street (百年东街婚庆广场). Four designated performance zones will be arranged along the route for featured shows.
The event showcases representative ICH traditions from across Shaoguan's counties and districts, including the spectacular 99-section dragon dance, the dazzling Incense Dragon Dance (a local folk performance incorporating burning incense sticks) and the lyrical Northern Guangdong Tea-Picking Opera. A She Ethnic Group costume show and traditional dances of the "Guoshan Yao", one of the most picturesque branches of the Yao ethnic group, will further highlight the region's rich ethnic heritage. Together, the 15 performance teams will present audiences with an immersive experience of northern Guangdong's living cultural traditions.
A Lantern Festival Carnival will be held in parallel. History East Street will host a New Year Shopping Market featuring local agricultural specialties, ICH handicrafts, and cultural and creative products. Art performances will be staged at the Wedding Square, while a fun lantern riddle guessing activity will be held along the river embankment, inviting families of all ages to participate.
Author | He Fengyu
Photo | Shaoguan Toutiao (韶关头条)
