Every year, “dragon lantern” performances are held in Jinhua, East China’s Zhejiang province, ahead of the Lantern Festival. Various folk activities are held across China to welcome the upcoming Lantern Festival, which falls on Sunday this year. Photo: VCG

Folk artists perform the “bench dragon dance” in Huangshan, East China’s Anhui province, on Wednesday. The “dragon” consists of wooden benches linked together, on which red lanterns are placed. Photo: VCG

Children perform a dragon dance in Taizhou, East China’s Zhejiang province, on Thursday. Photo: VCG

People of the Miao ethnic group in Southwest China’s Guizhou province dance to the Lusheng, a traditional instrument with pipes made out of bamboo, on Tuesday. The Lusheng instrument is popular among ethnic minorities in southwestern China such as the Miao, Yao and Dong people. Photo: VCG

Dong people dance during a Lusheng recital competition on Tuesday in Guizhou. Photo: VCG

An open-air wrestling match is held in Yucheng, North China’s Shanxi province, on Thursday. Photo: VCG

A dragon dance gets performed in Yichang, Central China’s Hubei province, on Thursday. The centuries-old dance is usually performed during festive celebrations. Photo: VCG

Visitors watch a lantern and light show in Zaozhuang, East China’s Shandong province, on Wednesday. Photo: VCG

The folk art performance known as “iron flowers,” which involves splashing molten iron to create sparkling streaks of light, is held in Beijing’s Shijingshan amusement park on Thursday. Photo: VCG

Actors in traditional Chinese costumes beat drums in Lü village in Anyang, Central China’s Henan province, on Thursday. The folk performance was listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2010. Photo: VCG

Costumers buy handmade Yuanxiao, sweet glutinous rice dumplings, at a supermarket in Handan, North China’s Hebei province, on Wednesday. Photo: VCG