"Dozens of participants carrying giant fish-shaped lanterns paraded through the alleyways of Shexian, a 600-year-old cultural heritage tradition that lights up the streets, welcomes the New Year and gears up for Spring Festival celebrations in eastern China's Anhui province. Footage from Friday shows glowing red fish lanterns, some stretching up to eight metres, being paraded through narrow streets, weaving past stone archways, as participants beat drums. “I felt that the videos on Douyin looked very good, so I came here to take a look and experience the fish lantern culture,” said visitor Guo Liang. Comparing the tradition to similar festivals elsewhere in China, Guo said that while styles differ by region, the roots remain the same. In Chinese, the word for fish, YU, sounds like 'surplus,' symbolising abundance and good fortune. “They all use a combination of wood and paper, including these lights. Actually, I think it is from the same origin. It all belongs to Chinese culture [...] It gives me a sense of belonging and identity,” he added. The fish lanterns carry deep symbolic meaning. In historically vulnerable wooden villages, fish symbolise water and protection. The Lantern Festival celebrations usually open with a Huizhou-style welcome ceremony followed by cultural performances, launching a series of events running from late 2025 through the Lantern Festival. Activities include folk parades, intangible cultural heritage experiences, food tastings, art exhibitions and rural leisure events, offering visitors an immersive Huizhou New Year experience. Highlights range from fish lantern parades and craft workshops in Zhanqi village to ICH street performances and local cuisine showcases at the Huizhou Ancient City Folk Culture Festival."