The 2025 Lishui Photography Festival held its opening ceremony on Nov 8, featuring a vibrant intangible cultural heritage parade.

Visitors view the photographic works at the Lishui Photography Festival. [Photo/Tide News]

The parade included 11 delegations from across Lishui's nine counties and two universities. It started at 9:30 am from the Lishui Sports Center, with the entire route covering 2.8 kilometers. Local residents and photographers lined the streets to capture the spectacle.

The parade showcased a rich array of intangible cultural heritage. Highlights included traditional lantern dance, performances representing local traditions like Longquan's celadon and sword culture, Qingtian's fish lanterns, and Jingning's She ethnic customs with a magnificent phoenix float.

Dancers perform at the intangible cultural heritage parade in Lishui, Zhejiang province, on Nov 8. [Photo/Tide News]

University contingents brought youthful energy. Lishui University students dressed in ethnic costumes, danced alongside international students, while students from Lishui Vocational and Technical College delivered lively dragon and lion dance performances.

The event drew enthusiastic responses from attendees, with many noting it was the most impressive cultural parade they had witnessed. Spectators were captivated by the vibrant displays, frequently applauding and taking photos to document the rich cultural stories on display.

As a hub of Chinese folk art, Lishui boasts three elements recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, along with 21 national and 114 provincial heritage items, highlighting the city's dedication to preserving and promoting its cultural legacy through this event.