Li Zujie: Lighting up the lion dance tradition

Li Zujie, a dynamic and innovative lion dance artist hailing from Zhanjiang, Guangdong has breathed new life into the traditional lion dance through his remarkable creativity.

Rooted in the essence of the Suixi lion dance, an integral part of Guangdong's rich lion dance heritage, Li was acutely aware of the issue of visibility during nocturnal performances.

As the fourth-generation inheritor in his family, Li sees lion dance running in his blood and has always regarded the inheritance of lion dancing as his own responsibility.

Inspired by the illuminated lion drums of other teams, he was resolved to infuse modern technology into this time-honored art. After numerous arduous experiments and painstaking upgrades, his "Glow-in-the-Dark Lion" outfit featuring LED lights began to attract widespread attention.

Despite encountering technical glitches during its initial appearance, Li remained undaunted. He took on the challenge of learning programming and dedicated himself to further refining the design.

Today, Li's "Glow-in-the-Dark Lion" costume not only retains the captivating charm of the traditional folk art but also broadens its appeal to a much wider audience, and these unique lion dance props are now selling briskly in many countries around the world.