Fireworks symbolize beauty, love, and romance; many romantic stories begin with fireworks. Love arrives like a surprising burst of fireworks but leaves no trace in the night sky when it's gone. Many people have seen fireworks, which are nothing unusual for us with our modern, comfortable lives. But there’s one kind of "firework" you’ve definitely never seen — the "Iron Tree Blossoms." The 2017 Fangshan Eco-Tourism Culture Festival invites you to witness the Iron Pouring Spectacle.
The so-called Iron Pouring Spectacle involves northern men wearing sheepskin coats turned inside out, who swiftly scoop up molten iron with long-handled wooden ladles made from oak knots, then hurl it against a high city wall. The molten iron crashes against the wall, bursting into a dazzling shower of tree-like sparks that shimmer brilliantly and leave spectators awestruck. The crowd cheers, jumps for joy, and is electrified with excitement. In that instant, hearts tremble along with it. The sparks take the shape of a lush, branchy tree canopy, hence called "tree flowers." This radiant blossoming, this momentary beauty, also symbolizes wealth and prosperity.
In the past, the Iron Pouring Spectacle was a unique custom of the people of Yu County to celebrate the Lantern Festival. Yu County’s Nuquan Town is the most famous place in China for this tradition and currently the region where the practice is most faithfully preserved and the skill most refined. It is precisely because of the dedication of the people of Yu County that it has been included in Hebei Province’s intangible cultural heritage, becoming an ancient art form that amazes the world today.
And as we watch, besides seeing that beautiful moment, we should also appreciate the danger the performers face, their perseverance, endurance, and hard work. Just consider this: turning solid iron into freely flowing molten iron requires temperatures exceeding 1,600 degrees Celsius — meaning the performers must work with molten iron over 1,600 degrees. This is truly a game for the brave.
The Iron Pouring Spectacle is undoubtedly the crystallization of wisdom from working people through long-term productive practice. They ingeniously integrated the "Iron Pouring Spectacle" into a grand musical dance epic, incorporating narrative plots and local folk customs, enacting a poignant love story. This deeper presentation of the Iron Pouring Spectacle creates an astonishing and unforgettable effect for visitors, allowing this ancient art form to be passed down more widely. It achieves a perfect fusion of the ancient "Iron Pouring Spectacle" with modern art, radiating boundless youthful vitality. The ancient and mysterious ritual, along with the grand scenes of battles involving thousands of soldiers, unfolds through the moving sound of the music and the stage lighting. Through the simple and sincere performances of the actors, it conveys a sense of history’s weight and stirs countless thoughts...
The 2017 Fangshan Eco-Tourism Culture Festival offers not only the breathtaking beauty of the Iron Pouring Spectacle but also the natural beauty of Tian Kai Hua Hai — "China’s Most Beautiful Countryside," the magical beauty of the Firefly Fantasy Zone in the Firefly Viewing Area, the delightful culinary beauty of the Music and Food Square, and the serene, comforting charm of the Tent and RV Campsites — the "Dream-Making Space." These diverse forms of beauty combine to create the uniquely enchanting "landscape of beauty" that is Tian Kai Hua Hai.
You may think fireworks are beautiful, but they still fall a little short compared to the "Iron Tree Blossoms." So come join the 2017 Fangshan Eco-Tourism Culture Festival at "Tian Kai Hua Hai." Those who come here are sure to find it a trip well worth taking.