Yangshuo golden loong debuts on Beijing's Grand Canal

A 241.2-meter "golden loong" assembled from bamboo rafts made its debut in Beijing during a full rehearsal on the Grand Canal in Haidian district on March 19, ahead of a local folk culture festival.

As the sun rose over the Guangyuanzha relic section of the ancient waterway, 38 craftsmen from Yangshuo, Guilin, worked in close coordination to assemble the giant loong structure on bamboo rafts.

Thirty six identical rafts measuring 6.7 meters long and 1.2 meters wide were connected to form the magnificent loong, decorated with bright yellow sunshades along its body. Two performers guided the loong head, while four others safeguarded the newly built loong head mounted on three linked rafts, with the rest of the crew managing the body and tail in precise formation.

He Yike, director of the Yangshuo Golden Loong Parade, noted that the event marks the first time the spectacle has been staged in Beijing. The team aims to showcase the excellence of Yangshuo's traditional culture alongside the historic Grand Canal.

A rehearsal for Yangshuo's Golden Loong Parade is held along Beijing's Grand Canal. [Photo provided to guangxi.chinadaily.com.cn/guilin]

Rooted in local creativity and refined over the course of 12 years, the Golden Loong Parade is a listed municipal intangible cultural heritage of Guilin and has previously appeared on the CCTV Spring Festival Gala. In addition to cultural display, the tradition has supported local bamboo raft workers and boosted cultural tourism along the Yulong River.

The rehearsal drew considerable attention from local residents, blending time-honored canal culture with southern Chinese folk art ahead of the Longtaitou Festival on March 20.