People across China have staged grand dragon dances to celebrate Longtaitou Day, a traditional occasion for getting a new haircut after the Spring Festival, praying for favorable weather and a bountiful harvest this year.

The day of Longtaitou, which literally means "dragon raises head," falls on the second day of the second lunar month.
In Qinhuangdao City, Hebei Province, 11 dragon dance teams from Beijing, Hebei, and Sichuan converged for the three-day 2024 National Dragon Dance Competition. Among these participants are children, who, with their nimble hands, inject fresh vitality into this age-old tradition with their graceful dragon dances.
In the ancient village of Shuyuan in Huizhou District, Huangshan City of east China's Anhui Province, villagers revived the craft of straw-woven dragons, some spanning over 10 meters, to perform a mesmerizing dragon dance. As night descended, over 20 villagers, to the thunderous echoes of gongs and drums, paraded these illuminated dragons through the streets and alleys. The dance, featuring a lead dragon followed by a procession of smaller ones, displayed a majestic and ever-changing spectacle under the limelight.
"A visit to watch the dragon dance on Longtaitou Day has become a yearly ritual for me. It never fails to leave me with a sense of awe and excitement," said a Huangshan resident.
Over in Shennong Mountain scenic area in central China's Henan province, a dragon dance team embarked on their performance at dawn, weaving their colorful dragons up to the mountain's peak. As dusk fell, the illuminated dragons cast a magical glow over the Great Wall, captivating tourists with a stunning visual feast.
In Chifeng City of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, a stilt performance kicked off the celebrations, with 18 teams parading in vibrant traditional costumes to the lively beat of drums and gongs, delighting locals with their humor and agility.
"I'm thrilled. The sight of a thousand performers on stilts is simply majestic. The moment the dragon 'raised its head,' I was filled with excitement," said one of the local residents.