During the Spring Festival, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development organized a series of activities titled "Traditional Villages Celebrating the Chinese New Year." Anhui, one of the 14 representative provinces, actively participated with the theme "Colorful Chinese New Year," hosting a variety of events to showcase the unique charm of Anhui culture to visitors nationwide.

As night fell in Zhanqi Village, Shexian County, the sound of drums filled the air as colorful fishing lanterns danced like dragons, illuminating the ancient village. Joyful smiles adorned the faces of villagers, while tourists paused to capture the festive moments.

Zhanqi Village boasts over 800 years of fishing lantern culture but faced decline due to talent loss. In 2022, under the leadership of 73-year-old former village head Wang Guanhai, villagers reformed the fishing lantern troupe, reviving collective memory with a "Fishing Lantern Festival," which gained immense popularity.

The village subsequently launched the "Mermaid Project," restoring ancient buildings, developing green plum cultivation, and nurturing intangible cultural heritage talents, attracting significant funding. Now, fishing lantern cultural products, unique homestays, and dining industries thrive, with many post-95s people returning to start businesses, breathing new life into the village.

During the Spring Festival, the fishing lantern troupe not only performed locally but was also invited to showcase their talents at the historic Huizhou Ancient City, drawing large crowds.

"A variety of traditional villages in our province are revitalizing rural areas by exploring unique cultural aspects and innovating activity formats, preserving cherished memories while boosting rural revitalization," said a representative from Anhui's Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. They plan to continue guiding traditional villages in deepening cultural tourism integration.