The Lichun Drum Troupe from Kecheng district, Quzhou, Zhejiang province, performed at the 7th International Festival of 24 Festive Drums in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, from Sept 12 to 13.

The troupe also attended the opening ceremony and an international exchange forum. It also took part in an international performance at SJK (C) Keng Koon in Bukit Tambun, Penang, appearing alongside about 160 drummers to help raise funds for student activities.

The drum performance, featuring the traditional culture of China's "24 solar terms", is an important folk activity in Quzhou. It is often performed at the annual traditional ceremony for welcoming the Start of Spring or li chun — the first solar term — in Quzhou's Jiuhua township.

Members of Quzhou's Lichun Drum Troupe give a drum performance. [Photo/WeChat account: kechengfabu]

In 2016, China's 24 solar terms, including representative folk activities such as Jiuhua's Start of Spring Ceremony, were inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The troupe has visited Malaysia several times in recent years. At this year's festival, it presented a traditional drum performance incorporating dance elements.

On Sept 26, the troupe is scheduled to hold its third international drum festival at Xingguang Wharf in Kecheng, with invited drum groups and international student teams from several universities.