Chongqing - 2024 is the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese lunar calendar, symbolizing strength, prosperity, wisdom, and auspiciousness in Chinese culture. For over a thousand years, dragon dance has been an essential folk activity during the Chinese Spring Festival, and during the Year of the Dragon, the Tongliang Dragon Dance has become an indispensable celebration.

Tongliang Dragon Dance is a dance art form that integrates folk dance, music, fine arts, and handicrafts. With a long history, it originated in the Sui and Tang dynasties (581-907), flourished in the Ming and Qing dynasties  (1368-1911), and shines brightly in contemporary times, enjoying worldwide fame. Anju Ancient Town, as one of the birthplaces of dragon culture, has had the custom of dragon dance performances since the Han Dynasty (25-220 AD).

Compared to other forms of dragon dance performances, Tongliang competitive dragon dance requires one dragon ball, a dragon 18 meters long, and eleven dragon dancers. Accompanied by music alternating between soothing and exhilarating, the dragon dance team continuously runs, jumps, tumbles, and even performs high-difficulty movements such as standing legs, spirals, and single-sided actions for better visual effects.

On the occasion of the Lantern Festival Festival, iChongqing reporters approached the ancient town of Anju in Tongliang, Chongqing, to conduct a live broadcast named "Chongqing Soars, World Dances." This broadcast aimed to introduce the customs of the traditional Chinese Lantern Festival to global audiences, showcase the features of Anju Ancient Town and Tongliang Dragon Dance, report on Tongliang Dragon's participation in the London Chinese New Year celebrations, and present the exciting performances of Tongliang competitive dragon in Anju Ancient Town to overseas viewers.

According to Chen Tianbin, the leader of the Tongliang Dragon performance in Anju Ancient Town that day, as one of the first batches of national intangible cultural heritage, the Tongliang Dragon Dance frequently appears on the world stage, showcasing exquisite dragon dance skills, promoting excellent traditional Chinese culture, and vividly interpreting the courage and responsibility of the people of Chongqing. As locals of Tongliang, they hope to continue the inheritance and development of this art.

Outstanding traditional culture can only be better protected when it faces internationalization. On January 8th, a dazzling Tongliang Dragon set off from Tongliang, Chongqing, to London, UK, marking the official launch of the "Land-Sea Appointment: Dragons Soar in Britain" 2024 Chinese New Year Celebration and Chongqing City Culture Promotion in the UK. Tongliang Dragon Dance was the only Chinese cultural display project in the London Eye Dragon Year Spring Festival lighting ceremony, illuminating the London sky with Chinese colors.