The Temple of the Five Lords in Haikou celebrated the Longtaitou, or Dragon Head Raising Festival on the evening of March 14. The celebrations expressed hopes for good weather and prosperity & wealth for all.

Longtaitou Festival, also known as the Double Second Festival, is a traditional Chinese festival held on the second day of the second month of the Chinese calendar. The name Longtaitou means "Dragon raising its head”. In traditional Chinese culture, the Dragon brings rain, an important factor in ancient agriculture. The Dragon is highly esteemed for its dignified bearing and beneficial powers. These days, the most popular custom on the day of the Dragon Head Raising Festival is getting a haircut.

At the scene of the celebration at the Temple of the Five Lords, a lion dance team gave an energetic performance accompanied by powerful drums and music. A dragon dance team was dressed in colorful clothes showing images of the Dragon roaming in the clouds, which symbolize good luck. Meanwhile, performers dressed in fancy clothes performed a “tumbling” act, in which they rocked back and forth, dipping almost to the ground but never tipping over, attracting many audience members to come and interact with the performance.

On the evening of March 14, “tumbler” show dancers in the Temple of the Five Lords, Haikou City, were dressed in fancy clothes, attracting many audience members to come and interact with the performance. Photo : Li Hao