Beichen district in Tianjin hosted a grand cultural performance on Tuesday to celebrate the annual Lantern Festival, attracting thousands of spectators, both locals and tourists.

The show began with a lion and dragon dance, followed by a joyous drumbeat.One of the 12 performances, Xiangyin Fagu, or Melodious Fagu Drum, has been listed as a national intangible culture heritage project since 2008.

Liu Yuxin, an inheritor of xiangyin fagu, said: “We have established a youth training class to ensure the project continues to be passed down to future generations”.

Other highlights of the festival included stilt-walking performances, where artists in colorful costumes showcased intricate dance moves, drawing cheers from the crowd.

The event aimed to promote Chinese traditional culture and showcase the unique cultural spiritual essence of the city.

The event not only celebrated Lantern Festival but also demonstrated how best to preserve traditional culture in a rapidly modernizing world.