A living tradition

The bench dragon is not just a heritage artifact displayed in museums — it is woven into the fabric of daily life in Pujiang.

Although Zhang had never participated in a bench dragon performance before training for this event, he felt a deep connection to the tradition. When he saw the recruitment notice, he signed up without hesitation.

Like Zhang, the other performers come from diverse backgrounds in Pujiang. They trained and rehearsed for a month under the guidance of seasoned veterans.

Before traveling to Beijing, they had already performed multiple times in Pujiang and Hangzhou and visited the local intangible cultural heritage museum to witness firsthand the intricate process of creating a bench dragon.

The tradition also holds strong appeal for young people. Among those traveling to Beijing for the performance, more than 20 were born after 1995.

According to Zhang, many of his childhood classmates and friends shared live broadcasts of bench dragon performances on social media during the Spring Festival, either as spectators or participants in local events.

The art form is also evolving in creative ways. On Feb 11, a unique water-land bench dragon show took place in Pujiang's Shanghe village. Performers carried a dragon on bamboo rafts along the Huyuan River, the mother river of Pujiang, while another dragon paraded along the riverbank. The two dragons moved in unison, presenting a stunning display.

"It brings me great joy to see this intangible cultural heritage continually infused with fresh energy," Zhang said. "I also hope that Pujiang's bench dragon will flourish, expanding beyond Zhejiang, beyond China, and onto the global stage."