On February 28 (the 12th day of the lunar month), the Scholar City was bustling at night as Xiuning County’s “Blessings Fill Scholar City” Dragon Dance Gala kicked off, presenting residents and visitors with an audiovisual feast that combined intangible cultural heritage, scholar‑culture traditions, and New Year blessings.

Xiuning has a long tradition of valuing scholarship and education, and its intangible cultural heritage—such as the Huizhou bench dragon and the “Victory Drum”—is among the region’s brightest folk treasures. Using the dragon as a channel, drums to enliven the scene, and dance to offer blessings, more than 600 performers jointly showcased the beauty of Xiuning’s heritage, the strength of its cultural lineage, and the charm of its folk customs.

To the beat of gongs and drums, bench‑dragon teams from Liukou Town, Zuoyoulong and Zhangtian villages in Hecheng Township, Wangcun Town, and Yucun Township set out from five directions—east, west, south, north and center—parading through neighborhoods toward Scholar Square. Lanterns linked into dragon bodies and rows of bench segments formed the dragon’s spine; against the night they resembled a river of stars, radiant and shimmering as they threaded through streets and alleys. From the banks of the Hengjiang River to the Scholar Archway, from West Street lanes to North–South Avenue, families and visitors flocked around the bench dragons in an immersive procession filled with laughter and cheers.

When the parade groups converged, the auspicious‑dragon feast formally began at Scholar Square. Bench dragons entered one after another—some robust and powerful, some brightly multicolored, others imposing—each displaying its own style. The Victory Drum troupe beat their drums as performers wearing bamboo hats, carrying drum frames on their backs and holding clappers marched in perfect step with high spirits and resounding rhythm.

Next came the lively “Youth Bench Dragon” performance, which blended intangible‑heritage traditions with youthful creativity and Xiuning’s distinctive “fu” (blessing) culture in the debut dance piece “Blessing Rhyme.” The Youth Bench Dragon moved gracefully as dancers infused New Year blessings, hometown beauty and heritage charm into their steps, giving new, vibrant life to the ancient bench‑dragon tradition.

The gala’s most romantic and auspicious moment arrived as music swelled and five giant “fu” ribbons descended from the eaves of the bell‑and‑drum tower. Lights converged and the air filled with blessing vibes, conveying the wish of “Blessings Fill Scholar City” to every spectator and highlighting the millennial scholar‑culture’s fortune and depth. The concentrated bench‑dragon performance brought the atmosphere to a climax: golden dragons undulated like surging rivers one moment and leapt like ascending clouds the next—each segment and lantern carrying cultural continuity, each dance and leap symbolizing the dragon’s gate. Many residents and visitors raised phones and cameras to capture the breathtaking scenes. Foreign teachers from Xiuning High School and social‑media creators also experienced the bench‑dragon up close, feeling the charm of intangible heritage.

This gala was a vivid practice in promoting the protection and transmission of intangible cultural heritage and deepening integration with cultural tourism. It showcased Xiuning County’s unique regional cultural appeal, expressed Xiuning’s cultural confidence through dance, and sounded a strong note of progress for Scholar City—allowing the Chinese dragon’s cultural resonance to spring into renewed vitality in the Year of the Horse’s New Year celebrations.

Source: anhuinews.com