Under the night sky in Pingcheng town, Shanxi province, shimmering paper dragons dance to the rhythm of drums and gongs, captivating onlookers of all ages. This enchanting display is the Pingcheng Paper Dragon, a treasured highlight of Shanxi's intangible cultural heritage.

The red and black twin dragons dance to the rhythmic beat of drums and gongs at the Pingcheng Town People's Square. [Photo/Shanxi Daily]

Standing at 1.25 meters tall and weighing approximately 25 kilograms, the paper dragon stretches an impressive 24 meters long, symbolizing the 24 solar terms and embodying wishes for favorable weather and national prosperity. The dragon's most intricate feature is its body, adorned with around 8,000 hand-crafted scales that flutter and move like a living creature as it dances.

Intangible cultural heritage practitioners paint the dragon's head. [Photo/Shanxi Daily]

Crafted with traditional techniques, the paper dragon uses bamboo strips for the frame, paper for the skin, and hemp rope for the tendons. Following processes such as "binding, cutting, mounting, pasting, and painting", it takes over a month and the combined efforts of more than 10 artisans to complete the dragon.

A villager uses bamboo strips to make the dragon's skeleton. [Photo/Shanxi Daily]

A team of over 60 young, strong performers animates the dragon, moving in sync with the rhythm of large cymbals and gongs, creating a lively, captivating performance.

In recent years, the Pingcheng Paper Dragon has not only shone in local folk events but has also traveled beyond Shanxi, showcasing its charm on Beijing stages. Local governments are also actively promoting this traditional culture in schools, ensuring the paper dragon craft continues to thrive in the modern era.

The dragon dance team rehearses their performance. [Photo/Shanxi Daily]