Prop creators keeping ancient traditions alive

On a chilly February morning, 25-year-old Huo Yunlong was busy creating a lion's head prop in his workshop in Huozhuang village of Xuchang city, Henan province.

After a two-hour process that included making the mold, gluing the parts, painting and adding decorations, he highlighted the lion's eyes — a crucial step that made the prop finally come to life.

The work of art that Huo created would be used for shehuo, a festival activity to celebrate the Chinese New Year. During the event, local residents perform a lion dance, with the prop serving as the soul of the performance.

After this year's Spring Festival, orders poured in online for Huo's props. He estimated he could make profits of more than 200,000 yuan (about $27,600) this year, proving that old crafts can find new life in the digital age.

Huozhuang village, located in Jian'an district of Xuchang city, has a tradition of making shehuo props dating back to the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Nowadays, the village produces more than 400 varieties of props, from dance shoes to dragon costumes, commanding more than 70 percent of the market in the north of the Yangtze River.

Having watched his parents make props as a boy, Huo chose to stay in Huozhuang after growing up. He now leads a team of eight people in prop making.

"I've acquired the technique, as well as the patience, precision and the willingness to slow down," he said. "Making shehuo props is a responsibility for my family and the village, and it has also given me an opportunity to support my family without leaving home."

Chen Tianbao, 58, an artisan from the village, has focused on crafting traditional shehuo dragon lanterns for 28 years.

His products are sold nationwide, with orders coming from Guangdong, Guizhou and Yunnan provinces and the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. The peak season for custom orders is around Spring Festival.

In 2025, sales revenue of shehuo props in Huozhuang village reached 1.2 billion yuan ($179 million), accounting for 70 percent of the village's GDP and 80 percent of residents' income.

"Shehuo used to be seen as an old and outdated tradition, but now it's getting young again," said Huo Junzheng, the village's Party chief. "We are happy to see the youth join the traditional industry. Two-thirds of the village's college graduates have come back to work for the industry with their passion, creativity and strong drive."

Recently, Huozhuang's dragon heads and lion costumes were sold to Southeast Asia, Europe and the United States, where overseas Chinese have helped keep the old traditions alive, the Party chief said.

"We're not just making props. We're making culture come alive," he added. "In this village, the old and the young are learning to move together — like performing a lion dance."

Contact the writers at qixin@chinadaily.com.cn