The publicity department of Baiyin district in Baiyin city, Gansu province, said local residents will have the opportunity to enjoy various cultural activities from Feb 4, as part of the 2014 Spring Festival celebrations, including Shaanxi opera, sports contests, lantern riddles and traditional Shehuo performances.

Shehuo refers to primitive sacrificial ceremonies when people used to perform songs and dances as part of their prayers for an abundant harvest and prosperity. "She" refers to the God of Earth and "huo" means fire, which people believed possessed a sort of magical power to drive away evil spirits.

Edited by Niva Whyman and Le Qin