Just after the hour of Xu, lanterns began to light up sporadically on both sides of the street, initially just one or two, then merging into a sea of lights, immersing the town near Taihua Mountain.
The streets were bustling, people were rubbing shoulders, and suddenly the sound of gongs and drums filled the air, as a parade of flower floats passed by, followed by lion dancers, stilt walkers, and magicians, forming a long dragon-like procession.
From the window near Yin Weiyin, one could see an old man selling sugar paintings pouring malt syrup onto a white stone slab, giving a flick of his wrist to conjure a cloud-stepping Qilin, which drew children clenching their New Year money to gather eagerly.
