Behind-the-scenes footage

The Shatoujiao Fish Lantern Dance is a unique folk dance popular in the Shatoujiao area in Shenzhen’s Yantian District and in the New Territories of Hong Kong.

It is a must-have performance for fishermen during festivals and ancestral worship ceremonies. The props used in the dance are exquisitely crafted. They are first made into the shapes of fish using bamboo strips, then covered with paper and colored before being coated with tung oil. The lantern’s insidesare illuminated by candles, although modern versions often use electric lights instead. When lit up, they display a stunning variety of over 20 different fish designs, including red carp, green carp, black carp, and others.