Colorful dragons danced in merry performances as a cultural parade unfolded on Friday during Qiandao Lake Creative Life Week in Chunan county, Zhejiang province. The performances embraced the charm of loong culture in the Year of the Dragon.

Loong culture is an important folk tradition in the Xin'an River Basin. The loong, or dragon, is a legendary creature in Chinese mythology and folklore. It was represented joyfully in the dances. Each dance was unique, with various types of loongs in elaborate group performances — grass loongs, fish lantern loongs, bench loongs and bamboo leaf loongs.

Thirteen local teams and five from other places — nearly a thousand actors altogether — collaborated in the performances to showcase the dazzling folk style.