Fire dragon dances accompanied by the dazzling molten "iron flower" firework show have heated up the festive atmosphere in Tongliang District of southwest China's Chongqing, as the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, approaches.

Tongliang is widely known as the Home of the Dragon Dance, part of Chinese tradition and heritage. Every year, the district prepares a series of events to celebrate the Spring Festival, which falls on Feb 10 this year.

Over the course of its long history, the Tongliang Dragon Dance has split into more than 20 distinct variations. The Fire Dragon Dance stands out as Tongliang's most remarkable folk performance.

Especially captivating at night, it's considered a must-see spectacle for its roaring flames and sparks of molten iron soaring into the air. The performance is led by bare-chested men and accompanied by rhythmic beats of drums and gongs, presenting a scene of excitement, grandeur and wonder.

"I came all the way from Hangzhou [in east China's Zhejiang Province]. This performance got my blood boiling. I've seen it Douyin before, but never felt it live. Today, it got me really excited. It brought back feelings of thrill and exhilaration at firework show, as if I returned to my childhood," said Tao Xujun, a tourist.

"I'm from Xi'an of Shaanxi Province [in northwest China] specially for this molten iron flower show in Tongliang. The dragon dance and the molten iron flower firework show are really overwhelming. I feel like having good luck throughout this year," said Bai Tiantian, another tourist.

The 10th Chongqing Tongliang Dragon Lantern Art Festival is being held as part of the celebration for the upcoming Chinese New Year - the Year of the Dragon.

The main venue of the festival dazzles with over 30 gorgeous lantern sets and ten large installations, all infused with dragon culture.

"We are putting up the Tongliang Dragon Lantern Art Festival around the Spring Festival just to blend our traditional New Year folk activities with our intangible cultural heritage. Thus, we could give local residents and tourists a better experience. All people are welcome to celebrate the Year of the Dragon in the home of Dragon in Tongliang," said Gao Xiaotao, deputy director of the Tongliang Culture and Tourism Development Committee.

This year's Tongliang Dragon Lantern Art Festival, running until March 11, is a wide-ranging event combining lantern displays, dragon dance performances, and immersive experiences in traditional Spring Festival customs.

Interactive activities are also arranged for visitors, according to organizers.