[2025 She County ] Travel Guide for Zhanqi Fish Lantern Parade (Updated Apr)

On March 1 (the second day of the second lunar month), I watched the fish lanterns in Zhanqi Village, She County, Anhui Province. Fish lanterns are said to have originated in the early Ming Dynasty and have a history of several hundred years. The local custom is to parade fish lanterns around the village in the first month of each year. The frame of the fish lantern is woven with bamboo, then pasted with paper and painted. The main color is red. The big fish lantern is one or two meters long, and the head, body and tail sections are all movable. It is connected to a wooden pole underneath and needs to be waved by two or three strong men together. The small fish lamp is only about 10 to 20 centimeters and is very light. Zhanqi Village is very small. The main street is an alley less than one kilometer long and can be walked around in an hour. Many villagers set up stalls on the street to sell small fish lanterns. If you come early, you can also experience painting fish lanterns. The starting point of the fish lantern activity is Dunmu Hall. There are several large fish lanterns and a "dragon lantern" in the hall. When you look at the fish lanterns at daybreak, the colors seem bright; when it gets dark, the lights in the fish lanterns light up, making them even more gorgeous. 🥁At around six o'clock, after a burst of gongs and drums, the fish lanterns began to move. The activity route is to walk back and forth along the main street. The narrow streets were full of people, and the level of congestion was comparable to that of Xi'erqi during the morning rush hour. People raised their hands high. The Fishing Lantern has a beautiful meaning: "Touch the fish head and you will have nothing to worry about" "Touch the fish's body, and you will be happy for life" "Touch the fish's tail and you'll have smooth sailing" The person holding the fish lantern wants the visitors to share this blessing. They swung the wooden pole and moved the fish lantern to the left, so that people on the left could touch it with their hands. After pausing for a few seconds, the fish lantern swung sharply to the right, targeting the tourists on Fukuzawa's right. An hour later, the team arrived at the small square in the village. Several fish lanterns formed a circle, fireworks were lit in the center, and the big fish lanterns flew up and down, leaping and dancing, with light and shadow interlaced... "The sound of the phoenix flute moves, the light of the jade pot turns, and the fish and dragons dance all night long" This sentence immediately brought to mind a picture.

Shexian County, Huangshan in early spring is really worth a spring outing. Hidden among these mountains are two ancient villages, one is the unique plum blossom viewing spot in southern Anhui🌸, which only sells plum blossoms and not fish; the other is the inheritance of intangible cultural heritage🀄️, romantic national style. They are Maihua Fishing Village and Zhanqi Village. - ☀️Route: Maihua Fishing Village (avoid crowds in the morning to enjoy flowers) - Zhanqi Village (take photos and make fish lamps in the afternoon) - Zhanqi Fish Lamp (large-scale fish lamp performance on March 1st🎭) - 🍃Maihua Fishing Village: ✔️Be sure to go early to shorten the queuing time. Now is the perfect time to enjoy plum blossoms. You must take a shuttle bus to reach the village. ✔️The plum blossoms in the village are already in bloom, and the visual effect is very beautiful, but the photos under the filter are even more beautiful. The pink color is really healing. ✔️The first choice for plum blossom viewing is Hongling Ancient Road. It is recommended to enter from the Qingshan intersection on the north side. Walk on the simple path and feel the breath of spring. Of course, Baibù Yúnti (Hundred Steps Cloud Ladder) is also a place for photography lovers. Since you are here, you should go there. ✔️If you want to watch the sunrise🌅 or the sea of clouds, you can stay nearby for one night. There are many snack bars in the village, and the price of about 10 yuan is not expensive. ✔️If you want to buy souvenirs, plum blossoms🌸 or potted plants for 5 yuan are very good choices. - 🍃Zhanqi Village: ✔️Zhanqi Village during the daytime is very suitable for taking pictures. Almost every family makes fish lamps, which cost about 100 yuan. It is recommended to book in advance. ✔️You can try the bamboo shoot noodles. The firewood rice is not cost-effective, although the ingredients are fresh. ✔️Zhanqi Village is not very large, but it has a "New Year's atmosphere". If you don't want to make fish lamps, you can also choose to rent them. There is a coffee shop in the village. ✔️There is a small shop in the village for ancient costume changing and shooting🎬, suitable for girls or children. - 🍃Zhanqi Fish Lamp: ✔️Only available on March 1st, don't miss it. The visual experience is shocking, and it is extraordinarily lively🔥. Feel the atmosphere that belongs to China 🀄️. ✔️The balcony should not be open to the public yet, which is a bit of a "pity". - ⚠️Travel tips: 1️⃣Self-driving is recommended, parking is very convenient, and you can also take a taxi. 2️⃣If you have a drone, it is recommended to bring it. The aerial view is even more amazing. 3️⃣The plum blossom season is only half a month, and the Zhanqi Fish Lamp will be back this week on March 1st. In addition, the weather is quite good on Saturday, so please be prepared for "huge crowds".

📍Address: Zhanqi Fish Lantern Parade, Zhanqi Village, Beian Town, Shexian County, Huangshan City, Anhui Province. Zhanqi Village is not only one of the birthplaces of Huizhou fish lanterns, but also a cultural link for young people returning home, thanks to the perseverance and innovation of intangible cultural heritage inheritor Zheng Dongjiao, who has breathed new life into traditional New Year customs. 🚗Transportation: Self-driving: About 40 km and 50 minutes from downtown Huangshan City, exit at Shexian County, and drive along Provincial Highway S324. Public transportation: Take a high-speed train to Shexian North Railway Station, then take a taxi for about 20 minutes. Huangshan City Bus Terminal: Take an intercity bus to Shexian Bus Station, then transfer to a bus to Beian Town. If you plan a multi-day trip, you can visit Huizhou Ancient City, Yuliang Ancient Town, and Xucun Village. 👍️Must-visit attractions: 1. Zhanqi Fish Lantern Night Tour The core experience is during the first lunar month (usually from New Year's Eve to the Lantern Festival), when giant fish lanterns "swim" out of the ancestral hall, accompanied by the sound of gongs and drums, and performers shout "One play, the carp wags its tail; two plays, the fish leaps a thousand miles," with light and shadow intermingling with ancient buildings. 2. Zhanqi Ancient Ancestral Hall Complex The village has well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasty ancestral halls, such as Dunben Hall and Jiushitong Hall, with carved beams and painted rafters that tell the story of the rise and fall of Huizhou merchant families. The fish lantern parade at night often starts here. 3. Bluestone Alley and Horsehead Wall Stroll through the 800-year-old streets and alleys, touch the mottled Huizhou-style walls, and encounter ham and bamboo lanterns hanging out to dry at the corner, feeling the uncommercialized atmosphere of the original village. 4. Intangible Cultural Heritage Workshop Experience Participate in fish lantern making, learn to make bamboo skeletons and cloth skins, and light up colorful bulbs with modern techniques. You can also take home mini fish lantern pendants and other cultural and creative products. 5. Ancient Camphor Tree and Viewing Platform The thousand-year-old camphor tree is a landmark in the village, and the slightly elevated viewing platform offers a panoramic view of the fish lantern parade, making it the best spot for panoramic photography. 🎟️Tickets: Zhanqi Village is open for free, and there is no extra charge for the fish lantern performance, which is a spontaneous activity by the villagers. 💗Other tips: The best time to watch the Zhanqi fish lanterns is from the third to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, from 18:30 to 21:00 every night. Try to avoid the peak crowds on New Year's Eve and the first day of the lunar month, and choose to watch after the fifth day.

| A night of fish and dragon dances, the best of the New Year. This year, I fulfilled my travel wish to see the fish lanterns I had long wanted to see. I originally planned to see the Zhanqi fish lanterns in Huizhou, but I also got to see the Chengkan fish lanterns. I'm so happy! 🐟 The Zhanqi fish lanterns are an intangible cultural heritage in Zhanqi Village, Shexian County, Huangshan, Anhui. They have been passed down for thousands of years and originated in the Southern Song Dynasty. The fish-shaped lanterns are made of bamboo strips and incorporate Huizhou carving and painting art, symbolizing "abundance every year." The fish lanterns are performed every year during the Lunar New Year. The fish lantern parade and the ancient village at night are the most festive carnival in Huizhou. 🔸Time: During the Lunar New Year: January 3 to January 18 Performance time: 18:00–18:30. It's best to arrive early, as you can take photos in the village. When the performance starts, there will be a lot of people, so go early to get a good spot. Fish lantern photography: 🔻Residential houses near Hualong Square: There is a small slope that is slightly higher than the usual spot, but a pine tree will block the view. It's still a good spot to watch the fish lanterns. 🔻Drone: You can't go to the second floor now, and taking photos from the ground is very challenging. If you have the means, a drone is the best option. ⭐️Special experiences 🔻Fish lantern making: There are several fish lantern workshops in the village where you can make your own fish lantern, which is much cheaper than buying one. 🔻Hanfu travel photography: Ancient style and fish lanterns go well together! You can take great photos and get makeup done. 🚗Transportation: Self-driving: I thought there would be a lot of people and no parking spaces, but it was fine in the following days. Navigate to "Zhanqi Village, Shexian County." There is a free parking lot at the entrance of the village (limited capacity). There is a special shuttle bus during the Lunar New Year, and you can get on and off at the square at the entrance of the village.

When I booked a tour to Zhanqi Village in Shexian County, Anhui, I didn't know it was suddenly so popular... There are both recommendations and warnings online, so here are my thoughts. The handmade fish lanterns are really beautiful. If it weren't for the inconvenience of bringing them back, I would definitely buy one. In other words, the packaging is not good enough. The villagers are generally very simple and honest. They didn't raise prices randomly because of the huge number of tourists. I had a bowl of noodles with vegetables and dried bamboo shoots for CNY 15. The best place to take photos is Dunmu Hall, where fish lanterns for performances are displayed. Standing on the highest platform, two people dance with fish lanterns, which is the best photo opportunity. Or you can take a side shot with the big fish lantern on the platform as the background, which is also a good angle to avoid the crowds. As for whether to climb up to watch the performance, if you want to get close to the fish lanterns, you don't need to go to the second or third floor of the villagers' houses. Going upstairs usually costs CNY 20–30 per person. I had a bowl of noodles at the Mingdeng Workshop and went to the third floor for CNY 45. I don't think this is the best angle, but I really like the owner, an old man, who has principles. The village is small, and the old street is not long. At the end is Zhanqi Primary School.