The Lion Dance Begins

Since the Han dynasty, lion dancing has been a festive folk tradition that brings auspicious blessings and prosperity, filling gatherings with joy. Hainan’s lion-dancing tradition dates back to the Ming dynasty. Dancers wear cloth costumes decorated with colorful patterns, form frames from woven bamboo, and perform lion and crane dances, celebrating together with the whole community. Zhulong Lion Dance is a Hainan troupe with a legacy spanning more than four hundred years. Though its school once enjoyed a formidable reputation, poverty scattered its members and forced it to close for decades. Lin Xiaoxi dons her “armor” and comes out of retirement for one last stand, only to be cruelly set up. Though she used to slack off in practice and spend her time fooling around, she grows more determined with every setback, studying hard and showcasing the spirit of Zhulong Lion Dance through one spectacular performance after another, along with the spirit of a great nation.