Guangxi villagers perform Spring Ox Dance to welcome spring
By Zhang Li in?Nanning |
chinadaily.com.cn |
Updated: 2026-02-05 19:10
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Villagers in Longsheng county, South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, marked the beginning of spring on Wednesday with the traditional Nao Chunniu, or Spring Ox Dance, a prayer for favorable weather and a bountiful harvest in the year ahead.
A centuries-old custom of the local Dong ethnic group, the ritual features a handmade spring ox crafted from bamboo, colored cloth, and straw. Two men guide the ox puppet at the head of a procession, followed by villagers carrying plows, harrows, and whips, reenacting farming activities to welcome spring and honor agrarian traditions.
