Dragon Dance (Gaolong)

Hanyang gaolong is said to date to the Tang Zhenguan era and flourishes in the Hanyang area of Wuhan; with a history reckoned in centuries, it is a centerpiece of local New Year and temple-fair festivities.

Unlike the usual horizontal dragon lanterns, gaolong is danced upright: the dragon head stands over four meters tall and weighs dozens of kilograms, with moves of bowing, sweeping, raising and shaking, the performer gripping it by mouth, and rituals of crafting, consecration and blessing-grabbing.

With its singular upright technique and complete ritual system, gaolong embodies the beliefs, craftsmanship and communal bonds of Hanyang's folk tradition.

Hanyang district is the heart of the gaolong tradition, where the dragon takes the stage at New Year temple fairs.