Traditional string lion dance thrives in SE China's Fujian

Performers work in close coordination, using strings to control Huotong string lions at the Huotong String Lion Hall in Huotong town, Jiaocheng district, Ningde city, southeast China's Fujian Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Weiyi)

At the sound of drumbeats, "drowsy" puppet lions spring to life at the center of a small stage at the Huotong String Lion Hall in Huotong town, Jiaocheng district, Ningde city, southeast China's Fujian Province.

What truly impresses, though, is the craft behind the scenes. More than a dozen performers stand 5 to 10 meters behind the stage, unable to see the lions. They rely entirely on the drumbeats and decades of coordination to control the lions' movements with strings.

Huotong string lions leap through the air at the Huotong String Lion Hall in Huotong town, Jiaocheng district, Ningde city, southeast China's Fujian Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Weiyi)

The Huotong String Lion Dance is a distinctive folk art form in eastern Fujian and a key part of China's lion dance tradition. It was listed in the first batch of China's national intangible cultural heritage in 2006.

The lions' movements may look effortless, but they demand years of dedicated training. Made from bamboo strips, cotton fabric and dyed bast fiber, the lions have grown heavier through generations of refinement, with the largest now weighing more than 30 kilograms.

Performers pull strings during a string lion dance performance at the Huotong String Lion Hall in Huotong town, Jiaocheng district, Ningde city, southeast China's Fujian Province. (People's Daily Online/Lin Mingxian)

To better preserve the art form, Jiaocheng district has upgraded the string lion hall with immersive lighting and surround sound. The revamped production combines storytelling, dance and puppetry, turning the performance into a regular stage show and giving the ancient craft new life.

Performers pull strings during a string lion dance performance at the Huotong String Lion Hall in Huotong town, Jiaocheng district, Ningde city, southeast China's Fujian Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Weiyi)

The stage for Huotong string lion performances features ornately carved beams and painted decorations, showcasing traditional craftsmanship. (People's Daily Online/Yang Haoyu)