On January 16, Zou Yute was sewing dragon cloth on Sanlian Street, Binzhou Town, Binyang County, Guangxi. The Spring Festival is approaching. In Binzhou Town, Binyang County, Guangxi, craftsman Zou Yute sits among a bunch of "dragons" every day, making cannon dragons. The Paolong

On January 16, Zou Yute was sewing dragon cloth on Sanlian Street, Binzhou Town, Binyang County, Guangxi.

The Spring Festival is approaching. In Binzhou Town, Binyang County, Guangxi, craftsman Zou Yute sits among a bunch of "dragons" every day, making cannon dragons.

The Paolong dance is a traditional folk activity in Binyang County with a history of more than 1,000 years. In June 2008, Binyang Cannon Dragon Festival was included in the national intangible cultural heritage list. The Paolong Festival is held during the Spring Festival and is a well-known local traditional folk festival.

70-year-old Zou Yute is the representative inheritor of Guangxi’s intangible cultural heritage project and the third generation of the family’s cannon dragon making artist. Making a cannon dragon is not an easy task. If one person makes it alone, it will take more than a month to complete. Zou Yute said that the purpose of making cannon dragons is not just for livelihood, but the inheritance of cultural heritage is more important than livelihood. For more than 40 years, he has been making artillery dragons every year without interruption, and has become a veritable "artist" of artillery dragons.

Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Boan Photo

On January 16, Zou Yute installed dragon balls in Sanlian Street, Binzhou Town, Binyang County, Guangxi.

Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Boan Photo

On January 16, Zou Yute (left) was selecting materials for making a cannon dragon at Sanlian Street, Binzhou Town, Binyang County, Guangxi.

Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Boan photo

On January 16, Zou Yute was making a cannon dragon in Sanlian Street, Binzhou Town, Binyang County, Guangxi.

Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Boan Photo

On January 16, Zou Yute installed dragon balls in Sanlian Street, Binzhou Town, Binyang County, Guangxi.

Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Boan photo

On January 16, Zou Yute was making a cannon dragon in Sanlian Street, Binzhou Town, Binyang County, Guangxi.

Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Boan photo

On January 16, Zou Yute was making a cannon dragon in Sanlian Street, Binzhou Town, Binyang County, Guangxi.

Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Boan Photo

On January 16, Zou Yute was making a cannon dragon in Sanlian Street, Binzhou Town, Binyang County, Guangxi.

Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Boan Photo

On January 16, at Sanlian Street, Binzhou Town, Binyang County, Guangxi, Zou Yute showed off a toy cannon dragon he made.

Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Boan Photo

On January 16, at Sanlian Street, Binzhou Town, Binyang County, Guangxi, Zou Yute showed off a toy cannon dragon he made.

Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Boan Photo

On January 16, Zou Yute decorated dragon claws on Sanlian Street, Binzhou Town, Binyang County, Guangxi.

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Boan

Imposition photo: Zou Yute is making a cannon dragon at Sanlian Street, Binzhou Town, Binyang County, Guangxi (left picture was taken on April 5, 2006, right picture was taken on January 16, 2024 day).

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Boan

Imposition photo: In Sanlian Street, Binzhou Town, Binyang County, Guangxi, Zou Yute is making a cannon dragon (the above picture was taken on April 5, 2006, and the bottom picture was taken on January 16, 2024 day).

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Boan

Imposition photos: The above picture shows Zou Yute making a cannon dragon in Sanlian Street, Binzhou Town, Binyang County, Guangxi (photographed on January 16, 2024); the bottom picture shows in Binyang County, Guangxi People dance the Paolong at the Binyang Paolong Festival in Binzhou Town (photo taken on February 7, 2017).

Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Boan Photo

Source: Xinhuanet