Locals watch a Datiehua show at the Wulongyuan Scenic Area on July 16. [Photo/IC]
Locals enjoyed a performance of Datiehua, or molten iron fireworks, in the Wulongyuan Scenic Area in Jia village, Yushan town, Pan'an county, Jinhua, East China's Zhejiang province, on the evening of July 16.
Molten iron fireworks are related to the iron-smelting industry and used to be performed by iron-smelting workers or blacksmiths. The tradition has existed in the village for centuries along with the region's development of the coal-mining and metallurgy industries.
The traditional performance, involving the spraying of molten iron has been listed as a national intangible cultural heritage item.
Using a wooden ladle soaked in water for three days, folk artists perform the stunt by throwing arcs of burning molten metal - be it iron, copper or aluminum - through the air at a temperature of up to 1,700 degrees Celsius, which bursts into glowing sparks onto a cold and hard wall.
By using various kinds of metals, the performers can create a multicolored array of "flowers". Wearing special protective clothes and helmets, the bravest performer would throw the molten iron over his head, creating an umbrella-shaped shower of sparks.
Legend has it that in ancient times, blacksmiths used to throw hot melted iron against the cold walls during the Lantern Festival. When the metal struck to the walls, it exploded into a shower of sparks to scare demons away. The centuries-old tradition has now become a popular performance for festivals or as a tourist attraction.
Bits of melted iron, known as Tiehua in Chinese, light up the night sky at the Wulongyuan Scenic Area on July 16. [Photo/IC]
