CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- On the evening of October 1, the gala for the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of The People's Republic of China was held in Tian'anmen Square, Beijing. Chongqing Tongliang Dragon Dance and Dazu Carp Lantern Dance, two intangible cultural heritages appeared. Nine Tongliang dragons swooping up and down or dancing together, instantly ignited the atmosphere of the celebration; while the Dazu Carp Lantern Dance was graceful, merry, and lightfast in every movement and the form was like a carp swimming in the stream.

Celebration for the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of The People's Republic of China

The celebration was composed of four functional performance areas, namely, the theme performance, central gala performance, mass gathering and fireworks. More than 3600 actors from all over the country were dancing on the south end of the Jinshui Bridge, Chang’an Street promoting the celebration atmosphere to a climax.

Chongqing Tongliang Dragon Dance

Nine dragons dancing at the celebration

At 20:33, Chongqing Tongliang Dragon Dance performance began, with nine long dragon in different colors flying, forging ahead toward the Jinshuimen Bridge. Then, Dragon Dance performers unloaded their dragon dance props, and clasped a five-star red flag on each hand. Based on the routines of Dragon Dance, they turned over flags and shaped them into "red flag dragon". In the end, the 9 dragons, together with the last two songs, appeared again, forming the appearance of a big dragon boat. The dragon boat carried the mascot of the 2022 Winter Olympics and galloped forward.

Dragon Dance performance

Dazu Carp Lantern Dance

Dazu Carp Lantern Dance

The Dazu Carp Lantern Dance also appeared at the central gala performance. Accompanied by the music, 70 carps "swam" into the center of the venue in rhythm under the dancing of the actors. Among them, 30 carp actors came from Dazu. These fish were composed of big fish and small fish. Big fish dance needed to be performed by two persons and small fish dance only needed one person. After the beginning of the performance, a group of big fish quickly took up the big steps and swam, and the small fish quickly formed two circles inside and outside the river, and then the big fish dance in the outer circle took the actions of robbing treasure and jumping the dragon gate. The small fish in the inner circle interacted with children, and played with each other, mimicking the carp in the water for foraging, pecking and swimming, forming a beautiful visual scene of the carp moving happily in crowds, creating festive atmosphere of joy.

Dazu Carp Lantern Dance

It was the fourth time for the dragon dance to show on the stage of the National Day ceremony, and it was the first time for the Dazu Carp Lantern Dance to perform on National Day celebrations. The magnificent Tongliang Dragon Dance, the joyous carp lantern, showed the people's blessing to the motherland, and expectations about the future. (Translated by Luo Juan, Fathom Language Limited)