Dozens carried an around hundred-metre dragon in a spectacular festival parade in eastern China.

The video was filmed in Wenzhou City in Zhejiang Province on March 11.

On the second day of the second lunar month, known as "Long Tai Tou" in Chinese tradition, celestial enthusiasts and locals alike celebrated the auspicious occasion.

In the town of Aojiang, festivities erupted as locals embraced this age-old tradition with exuberance. The renowned "Aojiang Dragon" stood as the epitome of grandeur, its colossal figure earning it the title of the "Eastern First Dragon."

Originating from the late Qing Dynasty, this cultural phenomenon was inscribed into the national intangible cultural heritage list in 2014. The procession of the Aojiang Dragon, carried by over 200 strong men, paraded along the streets, measuring nearly a hundred metres in length, with performances held during both day and night. Wherever it passed, the air was filled with the symphony of drums and gongs, and the sky adorned with fireworks, creating an atmosphere of unparalleled festivity.

This year's Aojiang Dragon boasted a total length of 99 metres, with the dragon's head towering at 5 metres and its body measuring 2.4 metres in diameter, making it the longest in its history.

From observing celestial phenomena to witnessing the majestic Aojiang Dragon up close, this folk tradition transforms people's reverence for the dragon into a nationwide carnival, bridging the gap between imagination and reality, and bringing ancient ideals to life in the present day.

The video was provided by local media with permission.

3月11日，农历二月初二，“二月二，龙抬头。”
天文专家认为，这一说法与古代天文学有关。“龙抬头”指的是二十八宿中的角宿（象征“龙角”）从东方地平线上出现。天上“龙抬头”的同时，春天也慢慢来到了人间，土壤解冻，春风化雨，大地返青。因此，二月二又被称为“春耕节”“农事节”“春龙节”，是中华民族民间传统节日。
二月二当天，浙江温州平阳县鳌江镇，人们载歌载舞抬大龙，喜迎这一传统节日。
平阳“鳌江大龙”雄姿堪称一绝，龙体硕大无比，素有“东方第一龙”美誉，从清末起盛行，2014年列入国家级非物质文化遗产名录。鳌江抬大龙，由200余名壮汉抬着近百米长的大龙沿街巡游，白天、晚上各一场。所经之处，锣鼓齐鸣、烟花漫天，热闹非凡。今年的鳌江大龙总长达99米，其中龙头高5米、龙身直径2.4米，为历年长度之最。
从远观天象到近观大龙，鳌江划大龙这项民俗活动把人们对龙的美好图腾和想象化成一场全民狂欢，让理想照进了现实。