Taijiang Dragon Lantern Festival
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City Name:Kaili (Chinese: 凯里, Pinyin:Kaili)
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Population :450,000
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Area :13061 sq km (506 sq mi)
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Overview:Kaili is a city in the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, a significant population of Miao and Gejia live in Kaili. Kaili is host to more than 120 Miao festivals throughout the year.
Taijing is a small town near Kaili, about 2 hours driving distance.
Several Miao ethnic groups in Taijiang celebrate the Dragon Lantern Festival. From the 1st to 15th of the first lunar month, Miao people make large paper dragons that are manipulated by 10 to 15 men. Children play small straw dragons everywhere.
In the evening, they weave through the street, stopping at different households. To ensure good luck of the coming year, each householder gives them money and liquor by the custom, While the paper-made dragon can't enter the house.
During the festival, the main street of Taijiang is filled with giant homemade fireworks that made from bamboo and packed with gunpowder. These fireworks are lit and direct the dragons. The local governmet building is the center of activity where all the dragons come to receive money. Usually, there are as many as about 30 dragons are destroied. The excitement will last until midnight.
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