Dragon lanterns are a centuries-old folk custom in Heshang Town. The head and tail of the dragon are made and tied by the folk organization "Old Dragon Shenghui". The dragon's head is about 1.5 meters high and weighs more than 50 kilograms, and the shape is very delicate and complex, requiring the careful tying of skilled craftsmen, and only a few old people in Xitou Village in Heshang Town have retained this skill. The part of the dragon body (dragon section) is made according to the uniform size by the participants from each village, each showing their own skills. Generally, there are more than 200 dragon segments that make up the body of the dragon. In the tradition of the dragon dance in Heshang, about half a month before the New Year's Eve, villagers from several villages get together to buy materials and start making the dragon, and then the dragon dance starts on the 13th day of the first month of the lunar calendar. Dragon dance by the three high light (note) and three colorful za high horse lead, nearly 1,000 strong young people to participate in the dance, the cited waving bead ball, with the rough rhythm of the gongs and drums, the cited dragons to tease the "grab beads", teasing the dragon swimming dance. Where the board dragon dance, the village men, women and children come to watch, and also attracted guests from afar, really lively. In 1983, Hangzhou held a lantern festival and invited the dragon lanterns to perform. After receiving the invitation, the old people worked day and night to make the plate dragon, and it took more than a week to make a 400-meter-long plate dragon, which filled up three big trucks. In the Wulin Square dance up the board dragon won the audience again and again clapping, at the time caused a sensation.
The dragon dance revelry continues until the Lantern Festival, when people burn the dragon's head at 12 o'clock on the night of the Lantern Festival to pray for a year of good weather, national peace and prosperity.
Note: Gaozhao is the bamboo ladder that leads the dragon lanterns during the performance, and dozens of red lanterns are hung at both ends, reaching nearly 20 meters high.