In Yinlu village, southwest China's Sichuan Province, an extraordinary folk tradition continues to mesmerize audiences with its vibrant display of cultural heritage.

The scene unfolds with rhythmic precision: two rural women position themselves at the front while a man stands behind them, together wielding an "auspicious dragon." The lifelike "bench dragon" comes alive in the hands of villagers, filling the air with joy.

Villagers perform bench dragon dance in Yinlu village, Datian town, Renhe district, Panzhihua city, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Photo courtesy of the cultural center of Renhe district)

This captivating performance represents the bench dragon dance, a cultural treasure that has been passed down in Yinlu village, nestled within Datian town, Renhe district, Panzhihua city, for over a century, tracing its origins back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Each bench dragon requires a three-person team, and during the agricultural off-season, the bench dragon dance is frequently performed. Through its vivid and authentic expression, the bench dragon dance embodies people's love for life, ensuring the ongoing transmission of local ethnic culture across generations.

Recently, the bench dragon dance troupe from Yinlu village gathered for rehearsal, with 36-year-old Liao Guoliang, the seventh-generation inheritor of this tradition, keeping rhythm.

Reflecting on her childhood, she recalls a simpler era when entertainment options were limited, making communal singing and dancing the highlight of village life, with the bench dragon dance serving as the most spectacular attraction.

Each wooden bench measures 99 centimeters in length and 50 centimeters in height, topped with an intricately woven grass dragon made from bamboo and straw. The dragon body stretches 110 centimeters long, with the head standing 50 centimeters high and the tail reaching 57 centimeters. The performance demands seamless coordination among three dancers, typically one man and two women.

According to Liang Jiacheng, head of the cultural center of Renhe district, the bench dragon dance has evolved into an exquisite art form through its century-long journey of inheritance.

The responsibility of preservation has naturally fallen to Liao, whose family has practiced this dance for generations.

The bench dragon dance carries forward the community's aspirations for good fortune, favorable weather, and shared prosperity.

"Previously, the bench dragon dance might have simply served as holiday entertainment, however, it has become a part of our cultural DNA today, becoming a distinctive calling card that represents not only Datian town and Renhe district, but Panzhihua city as a whole," Liao said.

She acknowledges current challenges in passing down traditional culture, noting that few young people are learning the bench dragon dance. As the seventh-generation inheritor, she hopes to attract more youth participation and continue this cultural legacy.

In recent years, the bench dragon dance has garnered significant attention from Party committees and government bodies at various levels. Through intangible cultural heritage programs in schools, Datian town has partnered with Datian Middle School to actively explore local resources and develop specialized textbooks. The town has collected over 100 dragon props and more than 100 costumes, and introduced the bench dragon dance to schools for heritage preservation.

Liao actively guides villagers to learn the bench dragon dance, aspiring for wider participation. Currently, more than 50 percent of her village's residents can perform the dance. Collaborating with teachers, she has created a morning exercise version of the dance, helping children better understand and appreciate this distinctive local art form.

Over the years, the bench dragon dance in Renhe district has earned recognition at prestigious events including the provincial traditional games of ethnic minorities. In 2023, the Renhe bench dragon dance was listed as a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage, cementing its status as a treasured cultural asset.