Guizhou Pingtang hosts water dragon culture festival

Visitors enjoy a water dragon dance at the festival. [Photo/ddcpc website]

Pingtang county in Southwest China's Guizhou province held the 8th Guizhou Pingtang Folk Water Dragon Culture Festival on July 8-9.

At the opening ceremony, a water dragon dance was performed, featuring a variety of roles including a water dragon, Arhat and fisherman. The water dragons were made of bamboo and grass, with a variety of different shapes and movements showcased during the performance.

After the performance, the water dragon carnival parade began, with the whole county, along with visitors from afar, joining together in a giant water fight.

The tradition of water dragon dance and water fighting in Pingtang dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It originated as a local custom to pray for rain during droughts and has continued to this day.

Visitors participate in a water fight after the water dragon dance. [Photo/ddcpc website]

Nowadays, the tradition is used to pray for favorable weather, bountiful harvests, good health, happiness, and good fortune. This highly entertaining activity has evolved into the largest folk festival of the Bouyei people and a cultural and tourism highlight of Pingtang.

In recent years, Pingtang has enhanced its tourism development, aiming to become an international travel destination for astronomical science and education.

Relying on the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope and the Pingtang Bridge, the county has launched unique research and study products featuring astronomical science, geological exploration, bridges, folk culture, intangible cultural heritage, agricultural experiences, and beautiful rural areas.