A high pole lion dance performance in China recently took a frightening turn after the costume suddenly caught fire mid show.
The incident, which has since gone viral across social media platforms including Facebook, Douyin, and Kuaishou, reportedly took place during an outdoor Chinese New Year celebration.
Confetti & fireworks spark unexpected blaze
According to widely circulated videos, the lion had successfully climbed onto a tall pole when members of the crowd began spraying large amounts of colourful confetti toward the performers to heighten the festive mood.
At the same time, fireworks were being set off near the pole as part of the celebration.
However, after the confetti stuck to the lion costume, sparks from the nearby fireworks appeared to ignite it. Within seconds, flames spread rapidly across the entire lion outfit, shocking the audience.
Gasps and screams could be heard as the fire flared up.
Performers act quickly to put out fire
In a critical moment, the two performers inside the costume reacted swiftly. They immediately removed the burning lion costume and threw it to the ground, which helped extinguish the flames quickly.
Other crew members were also seen climbing up the pole to assist.
Although the scene briefly descended into chaos, the emergency response prevented the situation from escalating further. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
