Urumqi, the capital city of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, hosted a Shehuo parade on Thursday to celebrate the upcoming Lantern Festival which will fall on March 3.

The event used a float parade to connect various shows of Shehuo, a type of traditional Chinese folk art.

The Shehuo parade, a time-honored performance enjoying widespread popularity in rural areas across China, originated from ancient sacrificial activities to pray for a good harvest about 2,000 years ago.

Eighteen folk performance troupes, comprising some 2,500 performers, took part in the parade.

Traditional performances such as drumming, yangko folk dance, dragon and lion dances drew numerous residents and tourists to watch.

"Seeing these performances today makes me especially happy and excited," said a local resident.

"This time, we've infused the traditional Shehuo folk culture with the joyful atmosphere and rhythms of Xinjiang wedding customs, creating such cheerful and lively ambiance," said a performer.

"The biggest highlight is the addition of a float parade. This parade integrates our folk teams' performances, showcasing both the dynamic and static beauty of Shehuo folk culture to the public," said Shi Zhongming, director of the Urumqi Cultural Center.