On the Lantern Festival of the Year of the Horse, the large-scale Shehuo activity was kicked off in Changji, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A large-scale Shehuo activity kicked off in Changji, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, to celebrate Lantern Festival in this Year of the Horse.

Eight representative teams from around the city, along with thousands of people from various ethnic groups, dressed in their finest attire and took to the streets to present a cultural feast that blended traditional folk customs with Xinjiang's regional characteristics.

On the Lantern Festival of the Year of the Horse, the large-scale Shehuo activity was kicked off in Changji, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The venue included Xinjiang ethnic minority arts such as black horse running, song, and dance to complement the classic Yingge dance and dragon and lion dances.

The performers ranged from older adults to young children, including farmers and herders, returning college students, community cadres, and retired soldiers. They formed a mixed ethnic performance team, incorporating the joy of their farm work and the happiness of getting rich into the show.

On the Lantern Festival of the Year of the Horse, the large-scale Shehuo activity was kicked off in Changji, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Shehuo is a kind of Chinese traditional folk performance, wherein villages and towns come alive with processions, loud music (gongs and drums), and crowds of people to celebrate Spring Festival. It is an intangible cultural heritage project declared by Changji and has been held for 41 consecutive years.

On the Lantern Festival of the Year of the Horse, the large-scale Shehuo activity was kicked off in Changji, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

On the Lantern Festival of the Year of the Horse, the large-scale Shehuo activity was kicked off in Changji, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

On the Lantern Festival of the Year of the Horse, the large-scale Shehuo activity was kicked off in Changji, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

On the Lantern Festival of the Year of the Horse, the large-scale Shehuo activity was kicked off in Changji, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

On the Lantern Festival of the Year of the Horse, the large-scale Shehuo activity was kicked off in Changji, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

On the Lantern Festival of the Year of the Horse, the large-scale Shehuo activity was kicked off in Changji, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

On the Lantern Festival of the Year of the Horse, the large-scale Shehuo activity was kicked off in Changji, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

On the Lantern Festival of the Year of the Horse, the large-scale Shehuo activity was kicked off in Changji, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

On the Lantern Festival of the Year of the Horse, the large-scale Shehuo activity was kicked off in Changji, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

On the Lantern Festival of the Year of the Horse, the large-scale Shehuo activity was kicked off in Changji, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

On the Lantern Festival of the Year of the Horse, the large-scale Shehuo activity was kicked off in Changji, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

On the Lantern Festival of the Year of the Horse, the large-scale Shehuo activity was kicked off in Changji, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

On the Lantern Festival of the Year of the Horse, the large-scale Shehuo activity was kicked off in Changji, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]