The arts parade has created vitality and joys wherever it goes.[Photo by Sun Junjun]

The parade features three 2-meter-wide majestic lions, an 11-meter-high impressive phoenix, and a dozen-meter-long golden rolling dragon.

The Shaxi Folk Arts Grand Parade, being passed down for 400 years and featuring on the list of Guangdong Intangible Cultural Heritage Projects, kicked off on May 12, the 8th day of the 4th month on the lunar calendar. The parade, which saw the participation of over 60 teams and 3,000 people, attracted more than 50,000 citizens and marks a peek time of the one-week Shaxi Tourism and Culture Festival.

In the morning, the parade successively walked through Shengshi Village, down to Hongsheng Hall, the Ruan's House, and the Archway for Centenarians. Villagers lit firecrackers in celebration when the parade passed their houses, and some of them and tourists were running beneath the dozen-meter-long "wandering dragon" in anticipation of having good health and fortune in the coming year.

Besides, a charity market was held at the Shengshi Village's square which offered opportunities for tourists to taste the seasonal Luanxi Cake and make the cake by themselves. They could also taste the Shaxi herbal tea for free, buy ice cream from the "glasswork" at a charitable price, and appreciate original handicrafts. Meanwhile, a range of spectacular activities including lectures on Luanxi Cake culture, family-made handicraft expos, photo contest, and painting wall experience were held at Shengshi Village.

A large number of villagers set tea booths at the gate of their houses and offered free tea to performers of the dragon and lion dance, other villagers and tourists.