初春的南宁，暖阳如诗，春风含情。2025年农历二月初二，恰逢“龙抬头”之日，广西龙门水都景区迎来了一场盛况空前的民俗文化盛宴——西乡塘区“二月二·龙抬头”民俗文化旅游节。这一天，春意盎然，万物复苏，龙门水都化身为中华传统文化与现代文旅交融的舞台，上演了一场气势恢宏、祥和喜庆的文化庆典。活动以“采龙气、聚龙福”为主题，通过“九龙祭”等传统仪式和丰富多彩的民俗展演，向世人展现了南宁悠久的历史底蕴和独特的民俗风情。
千年传承，龙抬头焕新生
“二月二，龙抬头”，这一习俗在中国民间流传千年，被赋予了祈福纳祥、风调雨顺、五谷丰登的美好寓意。在南宁，这一天的历史渊源尤为深厚。民国时期的《南宁社会概况》曾记载：“二月二，俗以二月初二为土地诞。街坊分领祚肉，并有‘烧炮会’，如有夺得爆竹圈者，奖以时钟、镜屏、花罇、挂灯等物，以示本年‘运到至灵’之意。”这不仅是一个节庆，更是一种文化的传承，寄托了人们对美好生活的向往。
2025年1月，南宁市西乡塘区将“二月二龙抬头”习俗正式列入第九批非物质文化遗产代表性项目名录，这标志着这一濒临失传的民俗瑰宝得到了新的保护与重视。作为南宁历史文化的重要组成部分，“龙抬头”不仅是节令的象征，更是承载农耕文明与龙崇拜的精神图腾。而龙门水都景区，正以其独特的方式，让这一传统焕发出新的生机。
为了更好地传承和弘扬这一文化，龙门水都连续三年举办“二月二龙抬头”民俗文化旅游节，今年更是联合南宁市西乡塘区文化广电体育和旅游局、广西旅联发展有限公司、广西桂学研究会、广西中华文化促进会等单位，共同打造了一场规模空前的盛会。活动不仅是对非遗文化的活态展示，更是对文旅融合发展的有力推动。
九龙祭，礼敬天地祈福祉
活动当日清晨，龙门水都景区钟声悠扬，空气中弥漫着淡淡的香火气息。“九龙祭”仪式作为本次旅游节的重头戏，以古法庄严进行，吸引了上万名游客驻足观看。祭祀遵循传统礼制，分为说龙、迎龙、醒龙、敬龙、舞龙、子龙、福龙、祭龙、接龙九个环节，每一步都充满了仪式感与文化内涵。
在“九龙祭”中，象征祥龙九子的囚牛、睚眦、嘲风、蒲牢、狻猊、霸下、狴犴、负屃、螭吻九位“祥龙”依次亮相。这些造型各异的龙子，或威武雄壮，或灵动飘逸，在舞龙队伍的演绎下，仿佛九龙出海，腾云驾雾，场面震撼人心。尤其是“点睛醒龙”环节，随着主持人高声诵念：“一点左眼，灵气混身；二点右眼，志在乾坤；三点额头旭日临空；四点龙嘴，招财纳祥”，嘉宾手持朱砂笔为祥龙点睛，瞬间点燃了现场气氛。祥龙睁眼的那一刻，仿佛灵气贯通天地，寓意新的一年风调雨顺、国泰民安。
随后，祭祀者抬着三牲、五谷、瓜果等供品，缓缓登上祭台。伴随着庄重的钟鼓声，祭文被宣读，全体肃立，三拜礼成。燔祭、酹酒，整个仪式肃穆而隆重，既是对龙神的敬仰，也是对自然的感恩。游客们沉浸其中，感受到中华传统文化的深厚魅力，视觉与听觉的双重震撼令人久久难忘。
开幕盛典，群贤毕至颂传承
上午10时，开幕仪式在龙门水都景区主会场隆重举行。现场人头攒动，来自南宁及周边地区的上万名民众齐聚于此，共同见证这一文化盛事。前广西人大副主任、广西文促会会长王跃飞在致辞中深情说道：“乙巳蛇年，共迎新春。在这美好的季节里，我们欢聚一堂，隆重举行龙门水都‘二月二龙抬头’非遗民俗文化旅游节。今年是中国春节申遗成功的第一年，也是龙门水都‘二月二’龙抬头民俗列入非遗名录的第一年，可喜可贺。”
王会长高度赞扬了龙门水都三年来在传承创新民俗文化方面的努力，并勉励景区继续打造具有影响力的文化旅游品牌，为南宁创建中国历史文化名城贡献力量。
广西龙门水都文旅集团总裁苏受吉在致辞中表示：“此刻，非遗传承的千年文脉与现代文旅的创新活力在此交融激荡。通过场景复原、活态展演、文创开发等实践，龙门水都让祭龙仪式、舞龙绝技等传统技艺重焕生机。未来，我们将继续以弘扬传统文化为己任，把这一活动办得更好。”
随后，原广西党委常委、宣传部部长潘琦宣布活动正式开幕，掌声雷动，气氛达到高潮。
民俗荟萃，欢乐共享聚龙福
开幕仪式结束后，一系列丰富多彩的庆祝活动接连上演。九龙祭天之后，非遗巡游队伍浩浩荡荡走过景区，龙头高昂，龙身蜿蜒，锣鼓喧天，喜气洋洋。龙狮共舞的表演中，雄狮翻腾跳跃，祥龙盘旋飞舞，场面热闹非凡。花婆游神赐福环节则为活动增添了一抹神秘色彩，身着传统服饰的花婆手持鲜花，沿途为游客祈福，寓意平安吉祥。
最引人注目的当属“千人长桌宴”。长桌绵延数百米，摆满了壮乡特色美食，游客们围坐一起，共享佳肴，笑语盈盈。这一环节不仅让人感受到浓浓的节日氛围，更体现了“聚龙福”的美好寓意。正如古语所说：“龙抬头，一年好兆头。”这场盛宴，仿佛将龙的福气传递给了每一个人。
此外，二月二在南方又称“踏青节”，春回大地，万物复苏，正是出游的好时节。活动当天，龙门水都周末迎来了数万人次的游客，大家走龙门、行大运，沐浴在春光与文化的双重洗礼中。
文旅融合，书写现代化新篇章
龙门水都“二月二龙抬头”民俗文化旅游节的成功举办，是一场文化的盛宴，更是对文旅融合发展的生动实践。通过“非遗+旅游”“非遗+研学”“非遗+文创”三位一体的创新模式，景区将传统文化与现代生活紧密结合，既让非遗项目焕发新生，又为地方经济注入了新的活力。
正如领导致辞中所言，今年是“十四五”文化强国建设的关键之年，也是乙巳蛇年，象征着灵性、智慧与生命力。龙门水都以“蛇行千里”的韧劲，坚定信心、开拓进取，不仅推动了西乡塘区文旅品牌的知名度提升，也为南宁乃至广西的文化传承与发展书写了浓墨重彩的一笔。
北欧时报观察：龙昂首，福满人间
“二月二·龙抬头”，这一天，龙门水都成为了文化的殿堂，祥龙腾飞，福气汇聚。从九龙祭的庄严到舞龙巡游的热烈，从长桌宴的欢聚到踏青游的惬意，每一个瞬间都让人感受到中华传统文化的无穷魅力。龙抬头不仅是自然节令的刻度，更是中华民族精神图腾的象征。愿这一活动如祥龙昂首，护佑壮乡五谷丰登；愿龙门水都乘风破浪，助推文旅融合高质量发展；愿每一位参与者如龙精神，事业如日中天！
在这七星连珠，春意盎然的二月，让我们共同祈愿：国泰民安，万事如意，年年好兆头！
"February Second·Dragon Raises Its Head"—Guangxi Longmen Water Capital Hosts the Yisi Year Folk Culture Tourism Festival
In early spring,Nanning is bathed in warm sunlight like a poem,with a tender spring breeze.On the second day of the second lunar month in2025,coinciding with the"Dragon Raises Its Head"day,Guangxi’s Longmen Water Capital Scenic Area welcomed an unprecedented folk culture extravaganza—the Xixiangtang District"February Second·Dragon Raises Its Head"Folk Culture Tourism Festival.On this day,spring was in full bloom,all things were reviving,and Longmen Water Capital transformed into a stage where traditional Chinese culture fused with modern cultural tourism,presenting a grand,harmonious,and joyous cultural celebration.The event,themed"Gathering Dragon Energy,Collecting Dragon Blessings,"showcased Nanning’s rich historical heritage and unique folk customs to the world through traditional rituals like the"Nine Dragons Sacrifice"and a variety of vibrant folk performances.
A Thousand-Year Legacy,Dragon Raises Its Head Renewed
"February Second,Dragon Raises Its Head"is a custom passed down for millennia in Chinese folklore,imbued with the beautiful meanings of praying for blessings,favorable weather,and abundant harvests.In Nanning,this day carries particularly deep historical roots.During the Republic of China era,theOverview of Nanning Societyrecorded:"February Second,commonly regarded as the birthday of the Earth God on the second day of the second lunar month.Neighborhoods distribute blessed meat,and there are'firecracker competitions.'Those who seize the firecracker ring are awarded clocks,mirrored screens,vases,hanging lanterns,and other items,symbolizing'the arrival of great fortune'for the year."This is not merely a festival but a cultural传承inheritance,embodying people’s aspirations for a better life.
In January2025,the"February Second Dragon Raises Its Head"custom in Nanning’s Xixiangtang District was officially included in the ninth batch of representative intangible cultural heritage projects,marking renewed protection and recognition for this nearly lost folk treasure.As an integral part of Nanning’s historical culture,"Dragon Raises Its Head"is not only a seasonal symbol but also a spiritual totem承载bearing agrarian civilization and dragon worship.Longmen Water Capital Scenic Area is revitalizing this tradition in its unique way.
To better inherit and promote this culture,Longmen Water Capital has held the"February Second Dragon Raises Its Head"Folk Culture Tourism Festival for three consecutive years.This year,it collaborated with entities such as the Xixiangtang District Culture,Radio,Television,Sports,and Tourism Bureau of Nanning City,Guangxi Tourism Alliance Development Co.,Ltd.,the Guangxi Guixue Research Association,and the Guangxi Chinese Culture Promotion Association to jointly create an unprecedented grand event.The festival is not only a living展示display of intangible cultural heritage but also a powerful boost to the integrated development of culture and tourism.
Nine Dragons Sacrifice,Honoring Heaven and Earth for Blessings
At dawn on the event day,the sound of bells echoed through Longmen Water Capital Scenic Area,with a faint scent of incense lingering in the air.The"Nine Dragons Sacrifice"ceremony,the centerpiece of this tourism festival,was conducted with solemn ancient rituals,drawing tens of thousands of tourists to watch.The sacrifice followed traditional etiquette,divided into nine segments:Speaking of the Dragon,Welcoming the Dragon,Awakening the Dragon,Honoring the Dragon,Dancing the Dragon,Child Dragon,Blessed Dragon,Sacrificing the Dragon,and Receiving the Dragon.Each step was imbued with ritual significance and cultural depth.
In the"Nine Dragons Sacrifice,"the nine auspicious dragon sons—Qiuniu,Yazi,Chaofeng,Pulao,Suanni,Baxia,Bi’an,Fuxi,and Chiwen—symbolizing the dragon’s offspring,made their appearances one by one.These dragon sons,varying in form from majestic and powerful to graceful and ethereal,came to life through the dragon dance troupe,as if nine dragons were emerging from the sea,soaring through clouds and mist,creating a breathtaking spectacle.The"awakening the dragon by dotting its eyes"segment was especially striking.As the host loudly recited,"One dot on the left eye fills it with spiritual energy;two dots on the right eye set its ambition on the universe;three dots on the forehead herald the rising sun;four dots on the dragon’s mouth bring wealth and blessings,"the guest of honor used a vermilion brush to dot the dragon’s eyes,instantly igniting the atmosphere.The moment the dragon’s eyes opened,it seemed as though spiritual energy connected heaven and earth,symbolizing a year of favorable weather and national peace.
Next,the sacrificers carried offerings of three animals,five grains,melons,and fruits,slowly ascending the altar.Amid the solemn tolling of bells and drums,the sacrificial text was read aloud,all stood in reverence,and the three bows were completed.The burning of offerings and pouring of wine concluded a ceremony both dignified and grand,expressing both reverence for the dragon god and gratitude to nature.Tourists immersed themselves in the experience,captivated by the profound charm of Chinese traditional culture,with the dual impact of sight and sound leaving a lasting impression.
Opening Ceremony,Gathering of Elites to Celebrate Inheritance
At10a.m.,the opening ceremony was held grandly at the main venue of Longmen Water Capital Scenic Area.The site buzzed with activity as tens of thousands of people from Nanning and surrounding areas gathered to witness this cultural event.Wang Yuefei,former Deputy Director of the Guangxi People’s Congress and President of the Guangxi Chinese Culture Promotion Association,delivered an impassioned speech:"In the Yisi Year of the Snake,we welcome the new spring together.In this beautiful season,we gather joyfully to solemnly hold the Longmen Water Capital‘February Second Dragon Raises Its Head’Intangible Cultural Heritage Folk Culture Tourism Festival.This year marks the first year of the successful inscription of the Chinese Spring Festival as an intangible cultural heritage,and also the first year that Longmen Water Capital’s‘February Second’Dragon Raises Its Head custom has been listed as an intangible heritage—a cause for celebration."
President Wang highly praised Longmen Water Capital’s efforts over the past three years in inheriting and innovating folk culture,encouraging the scenic area to continue building an influential cultural tourism brand and contribute to Nanning’s creation of a Chinese historical and cultural city.
Su Shouji,representative of Guangxi Longmen Water Capital Culture and Tourism Group,also spoke:"At this moment,the thousand-year cultural vein of intangible heritage blends and resonates with the innovative vitality of modern cultural tourism.Through scene restoration,live performances,and cultural product development,Longmen Water Capital has revitalized traditional skills like dragon sacrifice rituals and dragon dance mastery.In the future,we will continue to take the promotion of traditional culture as our mission and make this event even better."
Subsequently,Pan Qi,former member of the Guangxi Party Committee Standing Committee and Minister of Propaganda,announced the official opening of the event,met with thunderous applause as the atmosphere reached its peak.
Folk Culture Extravaganza,Sharing Joy and Gathering Dragon Blessings
Following the opening ceremony,a series of vibrant celebratory activities unfolded.After the Nine Dragons Sacrifice,a grand intangible heritage parade marched through the scenic area,with dragon heads held high and bodies winding gracefully,accompanied by resounding gongs and drums,exuding festivity.In the dragon-and-lion dance performance,mighty lions leaped and tumbled while auspicious dragons spiraled and soared,creating a lively spectacle.The"Flower Granny Procession and Blessing"segment added a touch of mystique,with traditionally dressed flower grannies holding fresh flowers,offering blessings to tourists along the way,symbolizing peace and good fortune.
The most eye-catching event was the"Thousand-Person Long Table Banquet."Stretching hundreds of meters,the long table was laden with Zhuang ethnic delicacies,where tourists gathered to share food and laughter.This segment not only fostered a strong festive atmosphere but also embodied the beautiful meaning of"Gathering Dragon Blessings."As the old saying goes,"Dragon Raises Its Head,a good omen for the year."This feast seemed to pass the dragon’s blessings to everyone present.
Moreover,in southern China,February Second is also known as the"Spring Outing Festival."With spring returning to the earth and all things reviving,it’s the perfect time for travel.On the event day,Longmen Water Capital welcomed100,000visitors,who walked through the dragon gate,sought good fortune,and immersed themselves in the dual baptism of spring and culture.
Cultural-Tourism Integration,Writing a New Chapter in Modernization
The successful hosting of the Longmen Water Capital"February Second Dragon Raises Its Head"Folk Culture Tourism Festival was not only a cultural feast but also a vivid practice of cultural-tourism integration.Through an innovative model combining"intangible heritage+tourism,""intangible heritage+study tours,"and"intangible heritage+cultural creation,"the scenic area seamlessly blended traditional culture with modern life,breathing new life into intangible heritage projects while injecting fresh vitality into the local economy.
As noted in the leadership’s speech,this year is a critical year for building a culturally strong nation during the"14th Five-Year Plan"and the Yisi Year of the Snake,symbolizing agility,wisdom,and vitality.With the resilience of"a snake traveling a thousand miles,"Longmen Water Capital has forged ahead with confidence and innovation,not only elevating the visibility of Xixiangtang District’s cultural tourism brand but also adding a bold stroke to the cultural inheritance and development of Nanning and Guangxi as a whole.
Nordic Times Observation:Dragon Raises Its Head,Blessings Fill the World
"February Second·Dragon Raises Its Head"—on this day,Longmen Water Capital became a temple of culture,with auspicious dragons soaring and blessings gathering.From the solemnity of the Nine Dragons Sacrifice to the fervor of the dragon dance parade,from the joy of the long table banquet to the leisure of spring outings,every moment showcased the boundless charm of Chinese traditional culture.Dragon Raises Its Head is not merely a marker of the seasonal calendar but a symbol of the spiritual totem of the Chinese nation.May this event rise like an auspicious dragon,safeguarding abundant harvests in the Zhuang homeland;may Longmen Water Capital ride the winds and waves,advancing the high-quality development of cultural-tourism integration;and may every participant embody the dragon’s spirit,with their endeavors soaring to new heights!
In this February of aligning stars and vibrant spring,let us collectively pray:May the nation prosper and the people find peace,may all things go as wished,and may every year bring good omens!
