After an eight-year break, the Fengting Water Pavilion Parade is running from Aug 8 to 13. [Photo provided to gofujian.com]

The banks of Fengcixi brook came alive with lights on Aug 8 in Fengting town, Xianyou county, Putian city, Fujian province.

That's as the long-anticipated Fengting Water Pavilion Parade returned after an eight-year break from being held.

Twenty elaborately decorated water pavilions gracefully floated along the brook on the opening night, showcasing all the charms of this ancient folk tradition. Ramping things up were cultural performances, fireworks and aerial drone shows.

The parade is uniquely held only from the 15th to the 20th day of the Leap Sixth Month. That means after this year's festivities, the next opportunity to witness this spectacle will be in 2036.

Standout sights among the illuminated boats were four pavilions themed on historical tales and folk culture.

One depicts the inspirational story of Lin Heng, the top candidate in the imperial examination during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Another reflects the benevolent spirit of Cai Xiang, a famous Xianyou-born official in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), as he compiled the Lychee Catalog.

A third showcases Fengting town as a cradle of political wisdom, producing five prime ministers in ancient China. A fourth illuminated boat traces the legend of the nine He family immortals, by forming a pavilion by tying maple branches together.

Originating in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the Fengting Water Pavilion Parade is a distinctive water-based folk performance combining mechanics, acrobatics, drama, music and art.

Renowned for its "marvel, danger and skill", it embodies rich historical and cultural significance.

Now part of the sixth batch of provincial-level intangible cultural heritage (ICH) items in Fujian, this year's event integrates digital technology with traditional lantern arts.

It's employing innovations like "ICH + technology" and "ICH + cultural and tourism" to rejuvenate and modernize ancient culture and promote the deeper integration of culture and tourism.

Each water pavilion embodies a different theme. [Photo by Zhu Guoqing/Putian Evening News]