STORY: Villagers prepare for special Lunar New Year celebration in China's Jiujiang
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: Feb. 11, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:08
LOCATION: JIUJIANG, China
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of villager practicing a special event
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): WANG ZHIRONG, Villager of Laowuwan village, Jiangxi Province
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): WANG DONGRONG, Villager of Laowuwan village, Jiangxi Province
4. various of villager practicing a special event

STORYLINE:

Recently, residents in Jiujiang City, east China's Jiangxi Province, have been practicing to stage a special new year celebration event.

Every year on the 7th day of the 1st lunar month, local residents dress up to form fast running teams resembling children. 

Residents wrap their heads in long scarves, paint their faces with red, white, and black pigments, and hold steel forks. After breakfast, they start "patrolling" from house to house. 

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): WANG ZHIRONG, Villager of Laowuwan village, Jiangxi Province
"Every year on the 7th day of the 1st lunar month, our village holds this special event. This is the 5th time for me to participate in it. I hope that this event can grow more spectacular in the coming years."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): WANG DONGRONG, Villager of Laowuwan village, Jiangxi Province
"I have been participating in the event for more than 50 years. Now that I am getting older, I hope our next generation can inherit this tradition."

Through this traditional custom, the villagers pray that the lunar new year will dispel misfortune, bring wealth and blessings, and make life more fulfilling and happy.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Jiujiang, China.
(XHTV)